Why Mountain Day is the Best Day Ever!

So I go to an all women’s college in New England, and as being one of the oldest colleges in the nation, it has many traditions. 

There’s September Convocation in which everyone dresses up in their class colors and gathers in the amphitheater to celebrate the beginning of the new academic year. In my case (since my class color is blue) it gives my classmates a legitimate excuse to dress up as the following: A Smurf, someone from Avatar, the Cookie Monster and of course a Blue Man Group groupie. 

Then of course there are M & Cs, in which all residential halls provide the students with milk and cookies as a study break several nights each week. But sometimes we get ripped off. And instead of coming downstairs at nine o’clock at night expecting to find freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, we end up finding carrots and other “heathy supplements.” 

But the most treasured of all traditions that is held at my school, is Mountain Day. 

But Jacqueline, what is this mysterious Mountain Day that you speak of?

Well fine reader, sit back and let me tell you the amazing tradition of Mountain Day:

This is Lynn Pasaquerella.

She is the president of my college.

Why am I showing you a random picture of her?

Because she decides when Mountain Day happens. 

That’s right.

There is no set date for Mountain Day, because NO ONE KNOWS WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN!

Except for Lynn. 

Look that that amazing smile!

When the fall weather sets in and students are in a rush to study for their midterms or write up their papers, Lynn will unexpectedly cancel classes FOR THE ENTIRE DAY!

And let me tell you, when you hear the bells ringing at seven o’clock in the morning announcing that it is Mountain Day you are like: 

And then you and your friends are like: 

And then all of your professors are like: 

It is seriously like waking up and finding out that it’s Christmas morning in July.

But with all of your classes canceled and your day all freed up, what exactly do you then do with yourself?


Well, traditionally many students enjoy outdoor activities, in particular, hiking up a mountain. (Because if you didn’t catch it beforehand, the name of the day is MOUNTAIN Day). 

But sometimes students use this day to go into town, do a little shopping and not have to worry about studying for that upcoming Art History exam that got pushed two days back. 


Talk about getting lucky.

So for you to understand the full experience of waking up and finding out that it’s Mountain Day, put yourself in my position:

You’re a twenty-year-old college student who has three midterms in a row this week.

The pressure is on!

Your social psychology midterm is tomorrow and you head off to bed to get a good night’s sleep. 

At around 7 a.m., the next day, someone sends you this text message:

You respond: 

With this face: 

And then you proceed to try and fall back asleep. 


But for some odd reason you just can't.


So instead, you check your newsfeed on Facebook only to find this: 

It's like an infection. Everyone is speading the news that it's Mounatin Day. 


And then you end up liking every single post that has some reference to Mountain Day: 

MEANWHILE . . . your phone is having a seizure, because all of your friends have heard the news that it’s Mountain Day too and keep texting you:  

And you then respond with snappy combacks like: 

OR . . .

But most likely . . .

While laying in your bed, tired and content that it’s Mountain Day and that you don’t actually have to get up for that 8:35 class that you have every Tuesday and Thursday.


 MEANWHILE . . . you tell your roommate the good news!


It’s Mountain Day!

And the first thing that she does is look at you in disbelief, unsure if you’re crazy or not:

Followed by: 

And then after realizing that you are absolutely serious, you both freak out over the fact that it’s frick’n Mountain Day and that you don’t have to get out of bed.

This excitement last for a good nine seconds before your roommate then decides to go back to sleep: 

Most likely, you end up not going back to bed. 


There’s just so much free time in the world on this very special day. 

You could catch up on your homework.


Read that book that you’ve put off over the summer.

Revise your resume. 

Finally get around to curing cancer.

You know, productive things, right?

Okay, so maybe you don’t get around to finishing your homework for tomorrow’s class or find the cure for cancer.

But the other possible thing that you could do is climb the mountain with you and your friends. Like what you guys did your freshmen year last Mountain Day. 

So in reality what do you do with all this free time if you have decided NOT to climb the mountain on Mountain Day? 

Well for the first two hours you're bored out of your mind until one of your friends calls you up. 

You both exchange ideas on what to do now that classes are canceled, until your 
 friend has an idea that fully catches your attention: 

Usually it will involve going to the mall and spending the entire day with your friends.

So when you hear those bells, put aside your homework and enjoy the fall weather.

Go on a hike, have a picnic with friends, or just relax out in the sun with a good novel.

Mountain Day is YOUR day!