Change in Seasons
March 22, 2024
Writer: Chloe Pehote
Editor: Tessa Tecoma
Growing up, I’ve always been fond of Michigan’s fall season, but there is something quite special about the first warm spring day in Ann Arbor. Between skipping class to spend the day tanning on the law quad, late-night karaoke at local bars, and sunset ice cream dates on State Street with friends, the final weeks of freshman year encapsulate some of my fondest memories at the University of Michigan. In honor of this era’s anniversary, as well as the first day above sixty-five degrees this calendar year, I’ve been spending a lot of time daydreaming about reliving the glory days in the coming weeks through my most recent self-care infatuation.
Mood boards as a trend have seen a rise in popularity over the past several years. Through which developing a renowned reputation for being a creative method of manifestation and a positive demonstration of social media activity, often through the use of Pinterest. Much like many other lifestyle fads, I have fallen into my own routine of collecting pictures of friendship, travel, and fashion from creators that I relate to and creating a mosaic of how I best romanticize my own life; memorializing these fantasies through the ways that the boards often change throughout the seasons.
As of late, the sun has begun to shine a little brighter, and I fill my mood board with flash photography pictures from parties, sundresses accompanied by messy hair rollers, and big bouquets of bright flowers. As the days grow longer, I replace my bulky sweaters and scarves with baby tees, mini skirts, and funky sunglasses. And, as I dream about internships spent in a city for the summer, I collect pictures of Red Sox games and Boston coffee shops.
Literally, the boards are temporary projects. But metaphorically, they are an extension of my identity and a personification of my aura. Eventually, they become a time capsule to reflect the kind of person I was while working on them and they serve as a measurement of how my interests, goals, and style have evolved over time. By collaging these pictures, I sort my life into seasons and reminisce over my own sweet memories, simultaneously envisioning and romanticizing my future at its very best. Through this practice, I have found ways to organize my goals into visual aids, gathering inspiration for the things about life that make me happy, get me excited, or inspire me in general.
In all honesty, college life can be hard to keep up with, especially when you are surrounded by so many strong, exuberant, and entertaining personalities. As a young woman, I have fallen into the ruts of consuming obsession and comparison through the social media presence of myself, my friends, and even total strangers, occasionally leaving me unsatisfied with my “aesthetic,” and “lifestyle.” Thankfully, I have come to realize that obsessing over the highlight reel of someone else's life is fruitless, and I have grown to enjoy manifesting positive outcomes in my own life, understanding my interests and styles, and better spending my allotted social media time doing things that make me happy through this activity. By creating these boards and having them to reflect upon as time goes by, I have cultivated a new creative outlet that further helps me remember how exciting and beautiful my life truly is, further inspiring me to make a new one with each coming era to design the next season of my life.
