Nature: An Escape from College Print Story

AUSTIN – The constant hustle and bustle. Buses and cars speed past you as you walk down The Drag. The smell of cigarettes fills the air from a few students working in a quick smoke before their next class.

The sidewalk is stained with gum and vomit, from those who are too lazy to dispose their waste at the nearest trashcan...or those who could not make it to the closest dumpster.

The University of Texas campus is a concrete jungle.

While on campus there is little space to be alone, and nature is scarce. But what if you want to escape the rush of college and relax in a natural environment?

Austin has many scenic areas where students love to go and take a break from the chaos of the city. Whether it is kayaking, paddle boarding on Town Lake, or hiking up Mount Bonnell, UT students are seen taking advantage of the beautiful sites this city has to offer.

Around 5 p.m. on a Saturday evening, the sun is starting to set, and the wind around the water is picking up. The ducks are in their flocks floating along the banks of the lake as kayakers and paddle boarders calmly pass by.

The students’ faces are serene, leisurely paddling from side to side, able to take a moment for themselves as they watch the sun come down from the clouds, causing a beautiful orange and yellow glow in the sky.

“I had never tried paddle boarding before I got to Austin, and now I use it as an activity to escape from my school commitments,” said Morgan Bridges, a freshman at the University of Texas at Austin.

Bridges expressed how she loved being able to unwind on the lake, while getting a little exercise at the same time.

Other visitors of Town Lake have a similar reaction when kayaking.

“I love to wake up early on a Sunday morning just as the sun is rising and go out and kayak,” said Jean Edwards, also a freshman at UT.

Edwards proceeded to explain how much she enjoyed being able to take a breather as she made her way down the river.

“It seems like the only time when I am away from my hectic schedule,” explained Edwards.

Two students are seen fishing along the shore of Town Lake, observing the kayakers passing by, occasionally giving a friendly smile to someone that catches their eye.

The environment is tranquil.

However, if you prefer some light hiking instead of activities on the lake, Mount Bonnell has much to offer.

As you climb the stairs leading to Mount Bonnell, trees lean in all around you, enclosing you in a small forest, and prohibiting you from seeing the city around you. When you reach the top you are hit with a magnificent view.

Town Lake glimmers hundreds of feet below you as you peer off the side of the mountain. The water is still; the sun is almost completely out of the sky as the moon peaks in.

The sound of cars honking and people talking is completely gone; you are able to hear your thoughts, and small birds chirping as they head off to sleep in their nests.

Strolling down the trail, you encounter others sitting by themselves, or with their significant other, peacefully watching the sunset, and enjoying the sweet silence and the beautiful view.

“Sometimes I just like to go up to Mount Bonnell and sit and watch the sunset alone and think about my day,” said Kristin Forburger, also a student at UT.

Forburger explains that being up there allows her to open up and reflect without being distracted by others making noise in her dorm room.

“I especially like to go after Young Life,” Forburger continues. “I just feel really connected up there, and away from all of my stress.”

When the sun is completely gone, the lights around the lake light up showing that the city is coming alive for the night.

In the distance you can see the Tower and the Capitol, glowing in the evening, reminding you that you must go back to the city and your commitments, but to enjoy the nature for the time being.

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