There are no shortage of picturesque places here on campus for you to sit down, take a look around, and contemplate anything that may be on your mind. I, myself, often frequent these locations to ponder the important questions in life, such as whether I should eat dinner at Essie’s or Narples (our affectionate name for the new Dining Center, which replaced Sharples Dining Hall). Here is my definitive list of the best places to ponder on campus.
5. Alligator Rock – Alligator rock is a small cliff out in the Crum Woods that overlooks the Crum Creek below. A slight bit of maneuvering down the rocks brings you to a small ledge that is hidden behind the main part of the cliff, perfect for sitting and contemplating what color gel pens you should buy the next time you stop in Of Aspen (a store over in the Ville [part of the town of Swarthmore] with an abundance of wonderful stationery items).
4. The Hammocks at the GSC – Hidden away in the trees behind the tennis courts, the GSC (Gender and Sexuality Center) is a wonderful place, with a homey fantasy-esque main building and a lovely little courtyard with some seating options. One of these seating options (or, I guess, lying options) are the hammocks. Cocooned up in these colorful hammocks, you will have the perfect environment to reflect on whether or not you should drop that 8:30 AM math class next semester.
3. McCabe 3rd floor – My personal favorite indoor pondering spot, McCabe 3rd, is the perfect environment for either deep studying or thinking. Sitting on the couch by the main window, you have a gorgeous view of Parrish hall, Parrish beach, and Clothier hall. The study rooms on this floor are also cozy environments perfect for reading, thinking, or just scrolling on your phone when you should actually be studying.
2. The Glade – A gem hidden in plain sight, the Glade is a small courtyard garden located at the Science Center, filled with redbud trees, grasses, and various flowers. Though Sci is often one of the busiest locations here on campus, hardly anyone ever passes through this secret oasis, making it a great place to reflect on whether or not you should have showed up to that guest lecture just for the free pizza.
1. The Koi Pond – Tucked away in a small alcove by the Scott Arboretum’s office, the koi pond is a beautifully serene location here on campus in all seasons. In the spring, the flowers and cool spring breeze make it like a fairytale. In the fall, the beautiful colors of all of the leaves bring you right into the fall spirit. And in the winter, the strings of lights that illuminate this secret garden fill you with holiday cheer. The perfect PONDering place (hehe), the koi pond is a great place to come when you need to think about your next move in that heated back-and-forth that started on your discussion post response.
While this is by no means an exhaustive list of all of the places you can ponder here on campus (technically, anywhere is a pondering place if you make it one), these are just some of my favorites. You also don’t even have to stay in one place to ponder, as sometimes I find myself going on contemplative strolls across campus, going to and fro, both physically and through thoughts. In short, there are plenty of places across this wonderful campus where inspiration may strike, dots may connect, or ideas may come together.