Right about now we are all experiencing a bit of a mid-semester funk. Maybe it’s the fact that your midterm grades are out and they’re not so good. Maybe your 8 a.m. class is starting to get to you and your beauty sleep. Or maybe your fantasy football team is zero and eight on the season.
Whatever the reason may be, one thing is sure to lift us out of our slump: Halloween.
They say the first step to recovery is acceptance, so let’s just admit it: we are too old for trick-or-treating. While we are not running around our neighborhoods in pursuit of the next full-sized candy bar, we are still trying to chase our inner 7-year-old.
“College is about being an adult, and Halloween allows us to be kids for a little while longer,” freshman Madaya Murphy said.
Yes, the nostalgia hits us hard, which is clearly evident by the amount of time and effort we put into finding the perfect costume…or two…or three.
“Seriously, get dressed up. Wear a funny costume, scary costume or outlandish costume – be creative,” freshman Ronald Pelletier said. “My friend and I are being a cop and robber. Trust me, you don’t want to be that guy who’s not in an outfit.”
Still, don’t break the bank on these one-and-done outfits.
“Work with what you’ve got. We’re in college, we don’t have a lot of money,” freshman Drew Rivera said.
With a new location, new friends and new rules, our traditions for the holiday are bound to change.
“People are really getting into Halloween this year, more than people in my high school did. I think it’s because here at MC almost everyone lives together, so we get collectively excited about the holiday,” Rivera added.
“It will be different because we won’t have our parents telling us what we can and can’t do, or when to be home, or how much candy to eat. The rules are less restrictive and there is a lot more freedom,” Pelletier said.
But you know what they say, with greater freedom comes with greater responsibility, especially in the greatest city in the world.
“I am a little worried about safety in NYC on this night because it’s a big city with an enormous amount of people in it,” Murphy said. “I can see some things getting out of control.”
“I feel like Halloween in NYC is less safe than it is in my hometown. But I am not too concerned, we have good protection and I feel safe on campus. Just don’t stray from the group or be alone,” Pelletier said.
Halloween is undoubtedly one of the most exciting things to happen during October and one of the highlights of our social life in the fall semester. As college students we don’t get too many opportunities to spend holidays away from home, but Halloween allows us to make new memories with new people and create new traditions.
Plus, who doesn’t love a good costume contest?