How two middle schoolers tackle upcoming fall traditions.

As summer heat fades and fall settles in, school just keeps getting busier. Fall has a lot to look forward to. For Eleanor Nelson ’29, fall is a mix of excitement and a bit of stress. For Lilly Lea ’30, it’s about robotics and making memories.

“I get really excited at first, but by the end, I’m definitely looking forward to winter,” Nelson says. She’s all about fall activities like carving pumpkins, hanging out with family, and watching “Heartstopper.”

“I’m glad that fall weather has its own charm, because I cannot handle the hot weather any longer,” Lea explains. “If it gets too hot, I get annoyed, but if it gets too cold, my skin gets really dry.” Lea also finds fall a good time to focus on her mental health, “Fall is busy and kind of stressful, but it helps me stay on track.”

Fall means cozy clothes and seasonal treats for Nelson and Lea both. “I set up my room for fall and started wearing comfy clothes. Plus, there are more sweets and cozy vibes,” Nelson says. Additionally, Nelson also loves stepping on crunchy leaves and remembers jumping into a pile at her grandparent’s house. “That’s one of my favorite memories,” she recalls. “Each year without fail, I make sure to go to Nebraska for Thanksgiving with my family. It’s not the most fun thing in the world, but at least I get out of the house,” Lea explains. 

Returning to school isn’t on Lea’s bucket list, though. “I’m not a huge fan of school,” she admits. She does like seasonal traditions, however. Lea is a huge fan of pumpkin spice lattes, and pumpkin flavored things in general. “I try to get a pumpkin spice latte every year and they taste better every single time,” Lea said

As the days get shorter, Nelson wishes for more daylight, “I’m scared of the dark, so more light would be better. I like walking around with my dog through our neighborhood when it’s cooler, but it feels unsafe when it gets dark.”

Despite the mixed feelings, these two girls are excited about fall activities with friends, like visiting pumpkin patches. “Going to the pumpkin patch with my friends was really fun. I’m looking forward to this fall season,” exclaims Eleanor. “Fall means chai tea season and I’m the biggest lover of chai, so I’m counting down the days,” Lilly says happily.