Two Saturdays ago, my friends and I ventured off campus to spend time in the hometown of our friend Raymond '25, thirty minutes outside Groton. We all had the Saturday afternoon off and decided to plan something to do with our free time. Despite the grey and chilly conditions, we decided to take our afternoon adventure outdoors.
After the school day ended, Raymond took us to his favorite spot in his town: the apple orchard. Standing in Raymond's backyard, we gazed at a horizon dotted with red polka dots clinging to the trees. From a distance, we could not depict what was nestled in the trees, yet as we walked closer, the rouge clumps transformed into mouth-watering fall delectables, waiting patiently to be plucked from their position. Before sinking our teeth through the skin of the apples into the tart-sweet flesh, we could already imagine the multitude of flavors we would soon indulge in.
We walked in and out of the aisles of Honeycrisps, Pink Ladies, McIntoshes, and more, sampling from the varieties before selecting the plumpest and brightest apples from the tops of the trees. As we wandered around and sprawled in the damp grass between the fruitful stalks, we gaped at the sky as the sun began peering between the clouds. We chatted and relaxed, savoring the precious three hours we could detach from our assignments and responsibilities.
Moments of quiet and relaxation make life at Groton worth the hurdles. Although we may face tumultuous times and a sea of tests and quizzes, taking a step back from our responsibilities and spending time and laughing with friends is worth the odyssey of Groton. Whether it's a long dinner in the dining hall, a small encounter with someone you haven't talked to in a while, or a quick apple-picking trip, finding value in things you can't quantify is paramount to the Groton experience.