NSA's Favorite Things About Spring
By Grace C.
Spring Meadow by borchee from Getty Images Signature Created in Canva
For many of us, April is a month where winter fades into the background. Where I live, the red maples lining the strip of lawn in front of my house are already putting out new leaves. Sprouts of swamp sunflower, aster, and mountain mint are crowding for space in the family garden. When I look down at the neighborhood lake from the hill by our community mailbox, I see turtles basking on a fallen pine and a forest bursting into green (and, if I am lucky, the bumpy back of the resident gator floating on the water). Birds–bluebirds, cardinals, warblers, and red-winged blackbirds–are returning from migration. Calpurnia and Ring-a-ding-ding, a pair of Canadian geese who live by our neighborhood pond, can be heard honking as they take short flights in the warm air. Songwriter and author Andrew Peterson couldn’t have described this season better: “And so the winter dies with a blast of icy wind/Like a mournful cry, it's giving up the ghost again/Another sheet of snow melts away to gold and green” (Peterson). What do NSA students think about spring? Last month, I conducted a survey through Google Forms to offer NSAers a chance to share their favorite things about spring.
When asked, “What is your favorite thing about spring?” many students said they loved the warmer weather that usually comes with the season. “After spending several months in the cold winter weather,” said Ellie, “I look forward to sunshine and warmth.” Andrew mentioned the return of sports was one of his favorite aspects of the season. Another student said they loved “seeing the [flower] blossoms coming out all around our neighborhood.” Moving on from the weather, students were asked what their favorite spring holiday was. Easter was a widespread favorite among respondents. The majority of students who said Easter was their favorite spring holiday cited the opportunity to celebrate Jesus’s death and resurrection. “Jesus is alive!!” wrote an anonymous responder. However, there were some unique responses: one student said his favorite spring holiday was April Fools’ Day.
When students were asked what their favorite spring activities were, a variety of interesting responses poured in. Several students said they loved spending time outdoors. John C., the Navigator’s editor-in-chief, said that although he didn’t take part in many activities unique to spring, he was “playing lots of basketball and…enjoying the weather by going to parks and being out in nature.” Another student said they liked the chance to prepare for end-of-the-year activities. On a similar note, students were also asked if their country celebrated any holidays during spring. Responses included Ramadan, Easter, Holi, Mother’s Day, and Memorial Day. Ironically, however, when asked if spring was their favorite season, students overwhelmingly said no! They typed responses like “I prefer autumn, but spring is a close second,” “No....there is so much pollen where I live in the spring, so it makes my allergies worse,” and “Nope! Fall is my favorite season.”
If you are one of the survey respondents who said spring was not your favorite, no worries. Everyone has their unique preferences about the seasons. However, if you live in a region where you can, I hope you will go outside today and enjoy the wonderful weather coming our way.
Columns: 🗓️Seasonal 👤NSA People
Grace C. lives in the United States with her parents and many pets. She is a tenth grader enjoying her second year at NSA. Grace has a passion for creative writing and is currently working on a fantasy novel. Some of her other hobbies include exploring God's creation, raising bugs, hoarding books, and baking.