As the Fall season is around the corner, you may have noticed that the weather begins to change. The sun starts to set a little earlier, the air changes and the leaves start changing. We go from wearing shorts, refreshing cold drinks and the hot sun beaming down on us to adding layers of sweaters and the chilly crisp air.
While the days grow shorter, fall comes with a warmth that expands more than just weather. From family gatherings to Halloween festivities, this time of year is mostly filled with connections, comfort food and treasured moments.
I made it my mission to go around campus and ask how students were celebrating the Fall season, the holidays, what they like about this time of year and their favorite foods and drinks.
The fall season is a favorite for many, because of the holidays and the weather that comes along with it.
Ava Otvos, student at Cabrillo College said she enjoys the aesthetic and the plans she makes.
“I love to plan events with my friends where we can dress up, go out for halloween. Family traditions are like Thanksgiving and we also celebrate Dia De Los Muertos,” Otvos said. “Also spending time with my loved ones, my friends, my family is kind of how I celebrate existing as a whole. Honestly I like the stark change in aesthetic.”
She also enjoys embracing the fall season through movies, music and seasonal drinks.
“I enjoy watching movies that are very fall coded. I enjoy watching Halloween movies, holiday movies and listening to fall music. But I think the overall change in the vibe is what I enjoy the most,” she said.
“I love a good old horchata during the fall season. It’s so good, it always hits. I feel like it’s very fall coded, very like cinnamony, vanilla type of flavor. Another drink would have to be any iced latte, since I am an iced coffee type of girl,” Otvos said.
While Otvos enjoys the aesthetic and the planning, for Leasly Zavala, student, the fall season for her means the festive gatherings and creative activities.
“This year my sister-in-law is throwing a Halloween party, and each couple will be taking a dish and making a drink. We will be carving pumpkins, painting, playing board games, and just spending time with each other,” Zavala said. “How I usually spend celebrating the fall holidays is I usually just spend time at my mom’s house and my mother-in-law’s house.”
But there is more for her than just festive gatherings and activities. She enjoys the seasonal drinks and food, the colors, as well as the spooky season.
“What I like the most about the fall seasons is pumpkin patches, carving pumpkins, seeing the leaves turn brown, Halloween, and watching Horror movies,” she said. “My favorite food during this time is pumpkin pie and a drink from the Starbucks fall menu, mainly the pumpkin chai latte.”
Laurel Southall, student, likes to settle for some cozy time and celebrations.
“I’m celebrating by going to the fair, pumpkin patch, having a halloween party and enjoying the fall weather. When the holidays get closer I get fall-y candles and warm blankets and stuff,” she said.
For Southall, fall means her birthday, food and of course, fun.
“What I like the most about the fall season is Halloween, the smells outside, and my birthday. My favorite drinks and foods during the fall are vanilla chais, cinnamon rolls and cider,” Southall said.
Kaito Levy, student, celebrates fall with the classics movies, travels and traditions.
“I will spend the fall season watching Wes Anderson or Halloween movies and eating apple cider donuts from Trader Joe’s,” Levy said. “I celebrate the Fall holiday by spending time with my family. Every year we host a reunion at Yosemite.”
Working at a coffee shop, he enjoys the seasonal drinks that come along with the fall season. “I work at Starbucks and have a mild addiction to the pumpkin cream chai drink, so that would be my favorite drink for fall,” he said.
Angel Castoreana, student, connects Fall with family time and pure bliss.
“I’m celebrating the Fall season with my family and making barbecues in the backyard, and also by watching movies and or playing video games together with my brothers,” he said. “I’m celebrating the fall holidays by spending time with people I love and making food with my family so we can all eat together.”
Castoreana appreciates the shift in weather and the simple things during this time.
“What I like the most about the fall season is definitely the weather because it’s not as hot compared to summer,” Castoreana said. “My favorite drink for the Fall would have to be hot chocolate and as for food well it’s more of a dessert but it’s cookies with brownies.”
Nancy Cervantes, student, finds joy in the quieter aspects of fall, the way nature changes and having family close.
“To celebrate the Fall season I like to walk around and observe the trees change color, spend time with the people I love, whether it be indoor or outdoor. I enjoy their company and having food nearby,” she said.
Cervantes’ favorites aren’t from a coffee shop or restaurant, but straight from home.
“The thing I enjoy the most about Fall is having a break from the hot weather. My favorite food during this season would be my mom’s cooking. Making the classic tamales, pozole verde and flan,” Cervantes said.
Whether it’s sipping a warm drink, watching Halloween movies, or simply just enjoying time with loved ones, Fall is a little different for everyone. But there is one thing for sure, that there is something special about this season.
During this time, students are reminded that Fall is more than just a season, more than just color changes and a different taste in food and drinks. Fall is about a time to slow down, gather together and appreciate the small moments.
Get ready to do all your favorite Fall activities as summer is ending. Grab your favorite Fall candle, sweater and movie — because Summer is ending and Fall is entering the chat!
