Introduction

Hello! I began the Walkings project in early October, and I was very inspired by the season. I made the first two entries (A for Autumn & M for Maple), then had an idea–-I really love Halloween, it’s my favorite holiday, so why not make it all Halloween themed? As I thought of how to stylize the writing, I thought about my past and my experiences. My mother has always been a preschool teacher, so I’ve helped out a lot with her classes over the years—naturally, as an English major, I did a lot of reading to them. The ABCDEary format we were instructed to write in reminded me of children’s books, and so I had the idea to write this project to read like a children’s book on Halloween! For the town connection, I chose to write the project as a story telling about a town (Blacksburg, though not named to be easy to apply anywhere in America) preparing for and getting ready for Halloween. This proved some challenges for word choices, as I wanted to make sure each word was not only Halloween or Autumn related, but I also wanted to use the word in its respective entry. This culminates in the final entry, Z for Zenith, where I wanted to use every word once again. I was inspired by many music albums; it’s not an uncommon theme to have the closing song on an album reference all the previous songs in the album. It’s a device I really love, so I wanted to make sure the climax of the project included this. 

In terms of pictures, I did procrastinate and I ended up having October pass me by with lots of pictures I could’ve gotten now gone. For other words, there wasn’t an opportunity to get my own pictures, so for some of the pictures (all are explicitly mentioned not to be mine and what the source is) I found them online and collected them. I did take care that each picture I found originated from a Blacksburg or VT source. I planned this out to be similar to an illustrated picture book, and while I know there’s certainly edits that need to be made in order to have this be an appropriate children’s book (easier words in certain places, for example), I like how it turned out. Thank you for reading!

A for Autumn

Sheetz Parking Lot. Photograph and Text. Oct. 9th

A certain small college town’s gas station sits on a hill, a bit higher up than the street in front of it. The gas station is surrounded by uniformly placed trees, all exactly a foot apart from each other. It’s the beginning of October, so the colors of the leaves are starting to change as Autumn sets in. The trees are caught mid-transformation, frozen in place for this one day to give a simple glimpse of metamorphosis. Lush greenery bleeds to a dull red, taking a detour through sickly yellow. (90)

B for Bats

Greater Horseshoe Bats. Photograph and Text. Oct.15th

In the nearby caves, many families begin to wake up, Mother Bats spreading and stretching their wings with big yawns. The babies start to chitter and chatter, hungry for food and ready to begin their flights. Their month has finally arrived, and they’ll be sure to make the most of it. The Bats will fly through the town, visiting all the shops, admiring all the decorations, scaring all the town locals, before returning home to their caves to prepare for Halloween Night, the big climax of this special, spooky month. (90)

C for Candy

CVS Candy Aisle. Photograph and Text. Oct.9th

Small stores and local aisles carry the season’s treats, sporting bright yellow “sale” tags to make themselves more appealing. Kids shopping with their parents see and beg for the sweet treats, and the yellow marker convinces the parents that it’s alright to buy this bag of candy. The stock usually runs a little low at the start of the season, when lots of families start buying up candy in advance. The piles will grow once again, and near the end last-minute-raiders will fill the store and gobble them all up. (90)

D for Darkness

Downtown Blacksburg. Photograph pre-2025. Text. Nov 20th

This time of year, the sun is chased away earlier and earlier each day, ushering in long periods of darkness. The creatures of the night thrive this season, lurking in the shadows and roaming the streets. It’s time for them to walk the streets, visiting shops and buildings themselves. The lights come on downtown, allowing enough light for the humans to walk amongst the monsters. But fear not, this is the season for us to mix and mingle, with all of us clad in disguises to mask our true identities. (90)

E for Eyes

Text. Nov 20th

Costumes are worn by everyone during this time, both monster and human alike. We don clothing and masks to hide our true identities, but beneath the masks we all have our eyes beaming through. The eyes hold the window to the soul, letting personalities shine over appearances. While we’re all hiding our real looks, our real selves are on full display, allowing the monsters and humans to interact and forge relationships. Perhaps you’ll meet a monster of your own this time, or maybe it was just a human after all. (90)

F for Fate

Text. December 1st

The autumn air brings in many professions and activities, including the arrival of fortune tellers to the town. They take up residence in open buildings or even in tents around the town, gazing into their crystal balls and reading their tarot cards to make predictions about the future. For a little bit of money, you can have them peer into your own future and get information about your coming days. Beware, however, as knowing one’s fate can be both a blessing and a curse. Beware the roads of the fates. (90)

G for Gravestones

(picture on its way. written oct15th.)

All roads lead back to the cemetery, the not-so-final resting place of the towns’ people. ‘Tis the season of ghosts and ghouls, and the long-dead loved ones of the families will rise for a time to celebrate this time of year. Twisting paths wind through the Gravestones, making a long and tangled walkway for the ghosts to take. They’ll march out of their sacred grounds, this paranormal procession, with cheers and laughter galore, making their high-spirited journeys back to old homes to see all of those here who miss them. (90)

H for Hallow

Halloween-decorated home. Photograph Oct.31 2025. Text. Nov 21st

Humans and monsters alike both decorate their homes for the season, making protective hallowed spaces for them. Unreal uglies and skeleton shams hang from their trees while gleaming glows and hollow headstones line the paths up to the front steps, where the residents leave out bowls of goodies for visitors and trick-or-treaters to help themselves to. When the bowls run out, fear not! The black cats, the witches’ fantastical familiars, prowl at night, carrying candied apples and appetizing candies, making sure to fill everyone’s bowl to keep the celebration alive! (90)

I for Imagination

Text. Nov 21st

‘Tis the season for celebrations, and it’s the time for imaginations to run wild. Creepy banners line the walls and silky spiderwebs map the ceilings, setting the mood for these paranormal parties. Humans and monsters both love these events, mixing together to enjoy and celebrate all things Halloween. Lanterns set the atmosphere as they burn on the tables, providing a soft glow to show us those closest, while still allowing others to creep out of the dark. All decorations lie under Pumpkins’ watch, the gourds making sure things run smoothly. (90)

J for Jack O’Lantern

Jack O’ Lantern decoration on a porch. Photograph and text. Oct.15

Though this season isn’t all parties and pastries; along with our creepy companions arising once more, scary Ghouls also use this time to walk the land. But never fear, for Jack O’Lantern is here! He sits on our porches to ward off the monsters, scaring them away with his blazing grin. He stays there all night, candles lit aflame, making the area safe for everyone to enjoy. He lies on every house on every street, making bubbles of safety for the humans to travel between while they trick or treat. (90)

K for Kitties

Text. Nov 22nd

Good Ol’ Jack isn’t the only guardian of this time; Fall is the season of kitties, the chosen assistants of all magical creatures. Black cats carry out the orders of their masters, making sure that the October’s hallowed rules are followed by everyone, both humans and monsters. They strut the streets with their golden eyes, seeing expertly through the dark and taking note of everything around them. Their swiveling ears hear all around, and their dexterous tails help them reach heights we cannot, to greater their watch over the town. (90)

L for Lanterns

Text. Nov 22nd

Lots of the holiday’s decorations center around providing light to dispel the darkness, though they tend to serve multiple purposes. Ol’ Jack and his pumpkin patches both glow bright and chase away evils, but Lanterns are traps that keep evil inside. Their glass chambers keep trickster spirits inside, preventing them from terrorizing the town with their pranks. They flicker angrily inside, making flames and shining brighter than even Old Jack himself can. These lanterns are foolproof, always able to keep these wisps inside forever…or until something breaks their glass doors. (90)

M for Maple

Donut shop products. Photograph and Text. Oct.9th

The town’s local doughnut shop has run for years, continually supplying everyone with delicious treats. The bakers wake up in the dead of morning to start their craft, making sure to have plenty of goods ready for everyone else’s breakfasts. Ovens on and whisks out, they tirelessly bake hundreds of treats before everyone else wakes up. They add whimsy to their foods, changing up flavors and frostings to match the season. Fall is Maple syrup season, and the bakers are ready to cover their pastries with the sweet, sugary glaze. (90)

N for Nightmares

Text. Nov 23rd

While the bakers begin their work in the early hours of the morning, these hours of darkness are still under the domain of night, when most other humans are still fast asleep. Lost in their dream worlds, many are visited by the dark spirits of Nightmares, little shadowy horses who bring bad dreams. With every step of their hooves, they leave behind frights and scares in the peoples’ dreams, turning their sweet dreams into frightful nightmares. The people toss through the night, until the rising sun chases these pranksters away. (90)

O for Owl

Barred Owl. Photograph June 29 2022. Text. Nov 23rd 2025

Outside their windows, in the highest branches of gnarled, leafless trees, sit mystical owls. These giant birds of night are akin to cats, night-roaming animals that can see through the veil with their big, glowing eyes. These patient birds sit and watch, observing the creatures as they go about their duties on these nights. With a stretch of their great wings they take flight, covering the moon and casting their ominous shadows over the residents. They don’t bring harm, they’re historians, recording the events of the town through the month. (90)

P for Phantoms

Text. Nov 24th

Under the owls’ watch, spirits roam various areas of the town. Phantoms haunt the homes they lived in while alive, returning this month to visit home once again. They phase through the walls and walk the stairs, leaving sounds of footsteps and the chill of cold air in their wake. They live with humans in the houses, giving these mortals a scare every once in a while, but they mean no harm. Phantoms are guests, visiting for the month to have a place to stay before they move on again. (90)

Q for Quiver

Text. Nov 24th

When these humans catch a glimpse of the houses’ phantoms, the chill they bring along with them causes the humans to quiver in fright! The humans get startled by a “Boo!” before the phantoms vanish, fading away into the cold air and being unseen once again. The chill lingers, making the people inside just a little bit colder. It’s the touch of the afterlife, an iciness that comes straight from the graveyards themselves, temporarily brought into the homes of the living. Back at the graves, guardians await the air’s return. (90)

R for Ravens

Corvids in the snow. Photograph March 12 2022. Text. Nov 25th 2025

While owls often sit in the trees of cemeteries as well and watch the rise of the undead, another bird black as night protects the graves. Great Ravens keep diligent watch over the graveyards, keeping an eye on these hallowed places to keep them safe. They allow the undead to exit and enter this month, controlling the spiritual gates and allowing them to open and close at will. These Ravens gift auras of cold air to the leaving ghosts, providing them a special ticket to get back into the afterlife. (90)

S for Skeletons

Skeleton Halloween decorations outside storefront. Photograph and Text. Oct.15th.

The Skeleton Construction Crew are hard at work putting the decorations up for the 31st, getting the town ready for a scare! Bright yellow caution tape restricts their work area and lawn chairs mark the property edge, closing off the area to keep it safe for everyone. They climb their ladders to hang terrifying tinsel and horrific ornaments, decking the town with boughs of wolfsbane and scary apparel. Despite their wiry frames, they work fast, and by All Hallow’s Eve, the town will be decorated with pumpkins and bats galore! (90)

T for Teeth

Text. Nov 26th

Even the skeletons can enjoy the treats of the season, and everyone devours their goodies with their teeth. Skeletons and humans have their little teeth, lining their gums and letting them chew through anything they want to eat. The vampires use their long fangs to pierce through, sucking the jelly out of donuts and the juice out of apples. Cats have their sharp fangs too, letting them carry their treats around from house to house and catch other, smaller animals for dinner. Though everyone has teeth, some have lost numbers. (90)

U for Undead

(no pic yet. Written November 10th).

As the moon rises, so too do the dead. Zombies, ghouls, and the Undead twist and crawl out of their graves, arms reaching and bones exposed. On this night the dead walk among us, so it’s important to wear a costume so they mistake you as one of their own. The zombies shuffle out of their graveyards and to the main town, making their slow crawl along the streets to Trick or Treat, trying to find humans…Do they want to see their old loved ones again? Or are they just hungry? (90)

V for Vampires

(no pic yet. Written November 10th).

Under the moonlight glow, fancy coffins inside dark castles open up. With big yawns from the sleepy residents, the vampires are ready to get up and scare! They hunt for blood and they hunt for candy, going around to the houses to get a Treat—or to play a Trick. But don’t worry—they can’t come in unless you invite them. On this night they’ll come out to play, but once the moon goes down and the sun comes up, they’ll be nestled back into their coffins to sleep for another year. (90)

W for Witches

(no pic yet. Written November 10th).

“Double, double, toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldron bubble,” the Three Witches chant around their concoction, stirring up the perfect brew for everyone to enjoy. It’ll take some time, but it’ll be ready for tonight, when Trick or Treaters and other Ghouls will show up on doorsteps, asking for a surprise. Trick or Treat? Well, they’ll certainly see. Will this brew turn them into a frog? Will it make your tongue glow, or talk slow? Will this potion clog up your brain with fog? Only the Witches will know. (90)

X for Xylitol

Text. Dec 1st

Mirroring the big witches, little pixie witches brew their own concoctions this month in preparation for the big night. Trios of pixies gather around tiny cauldrons to make candies for the trick-or-treaters. As they’re so small, they can’t go and buy sugar at the store, so they make their own artificial xylitol. They use their little sticks and stir in the fake sugar until it solidifies, trapping the stick inside to use as a handle for these lollipops. The pixies deliver these treats to candy bowls, ready to be eaten. (90)

Y for Yellow

Yellow waxing moon in Virginia. Photograph August 17th 2024. Text. Dec 1st

As night falls on Halloween, the great yellow Harvest Moon rises into the sky. Its golden glow pierces the night it brings, bringing both light and casting shadows all over the town. The golden moon is a sign to all residents that the true holiday has arrived, and it is time for humans and monsters to mingle in the streets. Trick-or-treaters don their costumes and begin their searches, while ghosts and ghouls begin their parties to celebrate their last night of the year. With everyone out, it is time for… (90)

Z for Zenith

Text. Dec 1st

…the Zenith, the climax of Autumn. Bats fly through the sky and pixies drop candy into bowls. The lingering dark creeps in alleys, obscuring the eyes of those traveling. Phantoms celebrate before returning to fated graves, as humans party in hallowed imaginations. Jack O’Lanterns light the path for kitties to find their ways home, bringing treats like maple donuts back to their owners. Nightmares finally begin to disappear, as owls watch over the quivers of fright in the night. Ravens sit at the cemetery gates to allow the skeletons and other undead back in when the night is over, back to their resting places for another year. Vampires’ sharp fanged teeth glimmer in the moonlight as they search for their blood and candy, and witches cackle as they ride their broomsticks through the air. The xylitol lollipops are savored by children acts the town, not noticing the different taste between real sugar and this fairy phony. As the yellow Harvest moon sets on the end of the night, the town ends their Halloween season with one final cry: Happy Halloween! (180)

Word Count= 2,546

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A is for A Letter for a Freshman

2.34 Directions for a First-year Student, Photograph and text; Sunday, Nov. 30

Figure 01. The Virginia Tech bush logo right outside the Virginia Tech Baseball field in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

Dear Future Hokie,

I’m not going to lie, freshman year won’t be all smooth sailing. There will be ups and downs, and those downs can be rough. It’s hard being in a new place with new people, and away from your family and everything that you’ve known. It can be hard to know what to do in times of doubt. However, when you ever feel overwhelmed or like you need an escape, places like the Horticulture Garden and the Duck Pond are great for beautiful sights and clearing your mind. (90)

B is for Bench

2.05 A Good Bench, Photograph and text; Wednesday, Oct. 29

Figure 02. A bench overlooking the Virginia Tech duck pond in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

The most sentimental location in all of Blacksburg is the duck pond. I think it has some of the most beautiful scenery that I’ve ever seen. This bench, in the middle of the duck pond path, creates the perfect spot to stop and enjoy the nature. Ducks quacking and splashing, even approaching you. The reflections in the water, the smell of autumn in the air. During walks often get caught up in the actual walk, but a good bench like this allows us to slow down and enjoy the scenery. (90)

C is for Consecutive Walks

3.23 Daily Walk List, Photograph and text; Saturday, Nov. 29

Figure 03. Countless birds flock in the sky above McBryde Drive in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

The daily walk I chose to do was my walk through the neighborhood on McBryde Drive from my apartment at Alight to campus. Out of all the things that stood out to me on my walks, this photograph has to be it. I was walking to campus when I looked up and saw what looked like hundreds of birds swarming the skies. I had never seen anything like it before; it was as if they were possessed. I doubt I’d see anything else out of the ordinary if I continued. (90)

D is for Duck Pond

2.19 Duck Pond, Photograph and text; Saturday, Nov. 29

Figure 04. Two ducks swimming on Virginia Tech’s duck pond in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

I love the duck pond. I believe it’s the most beautiful and special place on campus. On this specific trip that I took there, I noticed these two ducks swimming alone. Separate from the rest of the group. I watched them glide across the pond together, never leaving each other’s side. It made me think that maybe these two birds really are in love. I never thought that animals could comprehend complex, human-like emotions like that. However, watching these two made me believe that they really did love each other. (90)

E is for Established Path

2.17 Desire Paths, Video and text; Wednesday, Oct. 29

Video 01. Recording of a desire path, forged by the footprints of students, cutting through Virginia Tech’s drillfield in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Original video, Davis Woody)

This desire path is one I use every day of the week. I take it on my walk from Johnson Student Center to McComas Hall between 3 and 3:30 to cut through the drillfield. It doesn’t save me much time in the grand scheme of things, but those couple of seconds that it does save me make me feel like it makes a real difference, and clearly, I’m not the only one who thinks so. People will look to save a couple of seconds in any way they can. (90)

F is for Flowers

2.09 Hahn Horticulture Garden, Photograph and text; Sunday, Oct.5

Figure 05. Hahn Horticulture Garden as it is seen from its entrance on Washington Street. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

Hahn Horticulture Garden is a spot on campus I frequently visit. I don’t go as much as I would like to anymore, but it provides me with nostalgia from when I went all the time as a comfort place during my freshman year. As I made my way out of McComas Hall on the night this picture was taken, I couldn’t resist a trip to see my old friend. What I saw were flowers, lush beyond belief. Begging for my attention like nothing else I had seen in my life. (90)

G is for Garbage

2.24 A Meditation on Garbage, Photograph and text; Thursday, Oct. 9

Figure 06. A couch that has been flipped and thrown out of an apartment at Alight Blasburg, and is now lying in the grass on the front lawn. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

I’ve come across countless pieces of trash in my existence, but this one is probably the most shocking. As I was walking home one night, I stumbled across this couch that looked like it had been thrown off the balcony of a third-floor apartment. I couldn’t believe that someone would discard furniture like that without considering its impact on others or what would happen to it. I view Virginia Tech and Blacksburg, to some extent, as an incredibly clean location. This, however, is appalling and unlike anything I’d ever seen. (90)

H is for Huckleberry Trail

2.11 Huckleberry Trail, Photograph and text; Monday, Oct.6

Figure 07. Tunnel along the Huckleberry trail that goes underneath Route 460. It’s the more southern of the two tunnels, and this photograph was taken at night to show off the tunnel lighting. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

The Huckleberry Trail is one of my favorite places to walk and clear my head at Virginia Tech. It takes me away from the college vibe and transports me into a world that seems completely disconnected from Virginia Tech. I feel as though I’m actually alone in nature, which is unlike anything I feel on campus. As I traversed the trail one night, this tunnel caught my attention. The way it lit up amid the dark night, it was as if it were some sort of an escape from reality. (90) 

I is for Indoor Walk

2.12 Indoor Walk, Video and text; Sunday, Nov. 30

Video 02. Loop around the first floor of my house in Richmond, Virginia. (Original video, Davis Woody)

My indoor walk is simple. So simple that I didn’t even consider it a walk until now. It simply consists of me walking in a loop around the first floor of my house in Richmond. The house is built with a staircase going upstairs in the front of the house and a staircase to the basement in the back, both positioned in the center of the house, which creates freedom to roam through the first floor. This walk is one I constantly repeat, especially when stressed, specifically during football games. (90)

J is for Junk

2.18 A Wish for Something to be Different, Photograph and text; Sunday, Nov. 30

Figure 08. An empty cigarette packet found in the parking lot of Richmond’s First Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

One of my teachers in college gave us three lessons to remember on the last day of class. The first lesson he said was to recycle. More specifically, we need to take care of the one planet that we have so that our future generations have somewhere to live. This cigarette packet was left in the parking lot of a place I hold sacred: my church. To think that someone would just leave it here sickened me. We need to emphasize to the world the importance of the Earth’s future. (90)

K is for Keepings

2.23 The Things You Carry, Video and text; Sunday, Nov. 30

Video 03. Emptied contents of my backpack in my Alight apartment in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Original video, Davis Woody)

It’s kind of a pathetic haul for a backpack that I carry around everywhere, but the truth is, I don’t have many necessities for classes. The only items in my bag are a computer, a five-star college ruled spiral notebook, an old folder, a smaller notebook, and a calculator. To be fair, I really don’t even need the calculator anymore. I really only use the five-star for scrap paper. The folder keeps any papers I get, and the smaller notebook is essentially empty. My computer holds just about everything important. (90)

L is for Line

2.16 Waiting in Line, Photograph and text; Wednesday, Oct. 29

Figure 09. Waiting in line outside the QDOBA restaurant in Turner Place on Virginia Tech’s campus in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

This infamous line at QDOBA is where I spend around 20 minutes of my day, five days a week. It’s known for being one of the most popular restaurants on campus. Naturally, it comes with one of the longest lines as well. This particular trip features warmth. An escape from the cold outside. The aroma draws me in, reminds me why I’m here. Why I’m waiting in this line. The frustration is shared. No one wants to be here. Everyone is either talking to a friend or on their phone. (90)

M is for Mall

3.16 Non-Commercial Walk, Photograph and text; Saturday, Nov. 29

Figure 10. Right inside the main entrance of Short Pump Mall in Richmond, Virginia. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

This walk happened at the infamous Short Pump Town Center mall in Richmond, Virginia, on Black Friday. Naturally, there were thousands of shoppers who help revive the mall on this day once every year. The walkways were incredibly crowded, either with people traffic or lines wrapping around the stores. There were absolutely no rules, it seemed. I would argue that the universal rule for walking is that you walk on the right side. On Black Friday, however, people walk wherever they want. I couldn’t walk efficiently at all that day. (90)

N is for Night Sky

3.14 Star Gazing, Photograph and text; Saturday, Nov. 29

Figure 11. View of the stars in the night sky above my neighborhood in Richmond, Virginia. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

I love walking at night. In fact, I love it more than walking during the day. It feels way more peaceful and alone. For this walk, I slowed down heavily. I took every step carefully. Cautious not to step somewhere dangerous or off course. My only pauses came when I was trying to identify constellations, of which I actually did recognize a few. I can easily get lost on a nighttime walk because I can feel the darkness surrounding me. While others feel danger, I feel safe in the night. (90)

O is for Old Shoes

2.02 Shoe Portraits, Shoe Memories, Video and text; Thursday, Oct. 30

Video 04. Recording I took of my shoes during a walk in the neighborhood by my apartment in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Original video, Davis Woody)

The shoes shown in this video have been with me since freshman year, to be exact. They’ve carried me in the form of walks, car rides, and airplanes. They’ve seen numerous states and all sorts of terrain. From snow to beach, wet to dry, heat to frozen. They’ve carried me through some excellent times, as well as my lowest of lows. These shoes are even responsible for causing me to sprain my ankle during basketball, which is my most serious injury to date. They’re worn down now, but still serviceable. (90)

P is for Premier Walk

2.21 Blacksburg’s Best Walk, Photograph and text; Saturday, Nov. 29

Figure 12. Graffiti artwork I found underneath a bridge on a walk behind my apartment in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

For this entry, I asked my roommate, and good friend, what walk is his favorite in Blacksburg. He told me he liked to take a walk right behind our house, which I now know is called the Shenandoah Bike Trail. It’s a roughly two-mile loop that goes through a neighborhood. I was a huge fan of this walk, and it had so many unique aspects to it that set it apart from other walks I’ve been on. One of those aspects was this wall of graffiti that caught my eye. (90)

Q is for Quick Walk

2.32 Shortest Walk, Photograph and text; Wednesday, Oct. 8

Figure 13. Doorway to my kitchen as seen from my bedroom at my apartment at Alight Blacksburg. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

This walk again. Every morning. My alarm goes off. I turn it off. I roll over. I’m out of bed. I get up. I open the door. Kitchen stares at me. First walk for today. Just like yesterday. Just like tomorrow. I step out slowly. Feet on cold hardwood. I’m barely awake. One foot after another. The windows are open. I see faint sunlight. I’m all alone. Everyone is asleep. I feel my thirst. Fill my water bottle. Drink it in silence. Start to wake up. Beginning of every day. (90)

R is for Recorded Walk

2.13 Step Counting Metrics, Shoe Memories, Photograph and text; Saturday, Nov. 29

Figure 14. Screenshot of my Strava app where I recorded a walk I took on Virginia Tech’s campus in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

I must admit, I got a little carried away with this entry. What was supposed to be a 10-15 minute walk turned into an hour-long one. That should say how I feel about step-tracking. I was focused on cumulating as many steps as possible. I really wanted to take a walk to see some of my favorite spots on campus, with the hopes of mapping it out and seeing how it looked once I finished. I don’t know anyone devoted to step-tracking, but I can see the fun in it. (90)

S is for Sporting Event

2.08 Sporting Event, Photograph and text; Tuesday, Oct. 7

Figure 15. Worsham Field at Land Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia, as seen from the west sideline. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

This is a photo I took during my internship I have with the Virginia Tech Athletic Department. We went down to the field and walked around to become familiar with the stadium and what our roles would be during the game. The view was incredible. It was surreal to be up close and personal with the football environment while the teams were warming up. I won’t forget how loud it was either. Music blasting, fans cheering, players yelling, and cadets marching. There was so much going on everywhere I turned. (90)

T is for Trek

2.35 Go For A Hike, Photograph and text; Sunday, Oct. 26

Figure 16. A waterfall at the end of the Cascades Hiking Trail, just outside of Blacksburg, Virginia. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

The Cascades Trail is an adventure I’ve trekked plenty of times during my time as a student at Virginia Tech. The focal point of the hike is obviously, as pictured above, the waterfall at the end of the trail. It’s a fairly long hike up and back, but it’s absolutely made better with the addition of friends. Sharing this experience and conversing the whole time makes the walking not seem so bad, and makes the time fly by. The cascades are a cliché to bring up, but I love it. (90)

U is for Unique

3.22 Change the Ritual, Photograph and text; Saturday, Nov. 29

Figure 17. Two horses out in a field near Smithfield Road in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

My ritualistic walk is down Smithfield Road by the cow and horse pastures. When I get to the end of the road, I either turn back or I turn left and walk down the Huckleberry Trail if I’m feeling adventurous. This walk is ritualistic because it takes me away from the campus buildings and lights. This time, I turned left at the end and walked all the way to Smith’s Landing Apartments. It took away the rural/ritualistic aspect of the walk, but it took me to an unexplored location. (90)

V is for Various Backgrounds

2.14 Signage, Photograph and text; Saturday, Nov. 29

Figure 18. A car with an Idaho license plate parked outside the Data and Decision Sciences building in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

Pictured above is an Idaho license plate that I believe is the most captivating sign that I came across. I know this isn’t a Virginia Tech-issued sign, and it isn’t permanently placed, but I’ll explain why. This Idaho license plate symbolises the diverse community created here at Virginia Tech. We have tens of thousands of students, all collected here from different backgrounds in this big University melting pot. We have students from around the country, and even from outside of it, all living in this small city we call home. (90)

W is for Walking for Beauty

3.02 Flânerie, Photograph and text; Sunday, Nov. 30

Figure 19. A rainbow appears above Owen’s Food Court on Virginia Tech’s campus in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

Flânerie, from what I can gather, is finding beauty through the art of walking. The emphasis is more on the art of walking, or rather, strolling without end. With that said, I’d consider myself a huge fan of Flânerie. There’s nothing better than walking for the fun of it, exploring whatever comes across your path. Throughout my many walks, I believe the above photograph encapsulates the most beautiful representation of Flânerie that I can recall. A rainbow perfectly positioned above campus, something I wouldn’t have experienced without walking for myself. (90)

X is for Xatanitos (Magic Word)

3.27 Epic Walking Story, Photograph and text; Sunday, Nov. 30

Figure 20. A stray cat approaches on the Shennandoah Bike Trail in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

Centuries ago, kingdoms stood, kings conquered, and magic existed. Magic ruled all. Some even went to dangerous depths to seek it. However, none possessed more magic than Siné the cat. The truth was, no matter how powerful any other magician got, they could never match Siné, for he was the only one who had mastered immortality. With this power, he forged a path between the kingdoms in an attempt to make a lasting connection for years to come. Eventually, the kingdoms fell, and that path became the Shenandoah Bike Trail. (90)

Y is for Yearn to Walk

3.01 Reflective Preparatory Writing, Photograph and text; Sunday, Nov. 30

Figure 21. Parking spot in the Chicken Hill parking lot near the Virginia Tech Intramural fields in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Original photograph, Davis Woody)

I yearn to walk. It is absolutely a need. If I ever feel distraught in any way, whether it’s sadness, stress, or even if I’m happy and nothing’s wrong. I love the feeling of escaping my everyday life and just being able to take some time for myself, undisturbed. I’m a fast walker, at least, in my opinion. The walks I take are either predetermined paths/trails or journeys without an ending. Sometimes I walk without an end in sight. I just walk until I feel satisfied with my distance. (90)

Z is for Zone to Eavesdrop

2.04 Overheard, Less Context, Audio and text; Sunday, Nov. 30

Audio track 01. Recorded a piece of conversation overheard in Short Pump Towne Center in Richmond, Virginia. (Original recording, Davis Woody)

I recorded this audio in an extremely busy mall during Black Friday. I believe you can tell from the audio just how many people there were around me. Some voices stick out more than others, but there is clear chatter going on throughout the audio clip. I can pretty clearly make out someone saying, “The onions from Shrek. Oh my gosh!” It just sounds like two friends having a random conversation, referencing a movie they enjoy. I think it speaks to the type of people shopping there that day: teenagers. (90)

F is for Food Lion

I would have thought it would have become boring by now, but I never get tired of my daily walk. My walk is something I try to do every day, my destination being Food Lion. My trips to Food Lion have become consistent; I stop by every day. It offers me security, not having to worry about where my next meal is coming from. Even though my bank account suffers, I call it a healthy addiction. If I knew I was stocked with groceries at home, I would try to limit my spending. That being said, I would never leave empty-handed. My walk typically occurs at night, right before the store closes. Something about going at night, when I am one of the only shoppers, creates a sense of mystery. This habit originally began in the beginning of the semester, after my dad left me with some money. I had gone to get all of my regular groceries, things I repurchased because I knew I enjoyed them. Just as I was about to enter the checkoutline, I picked up an unfamiliar item. Cashew butter. It was something I had never tried before, curiosity got the best of me, and I ended up buying it. It is now one of my favorite things to get from Food Lion. The thrill I got from trying something new and actually enjoying it was addicting. It made me change my perspective on life in general. Teaching me that new experiences can be exciting and something to look forward to. Food Lion has become a personal symbol of growth and routine, a positive reminder. (270)

Figure 1 – Food Lion Blacksburg. Original photograph, Freddy Karras.

U is for Union

S’mores, but I think they have become a social icon in this day and age. And I just have to accept it. I think the marshmallows are too sweet for the chocolate and graham crackers. But I can’t like everything about this long life we’re living, so honestly I just make the best of it and try to enjoy what I can of the s’mores culture. And that is the chocolate, especially if it’s Hershey’s dark chocolate. I would never want to walk this far for s’mores, but my club, MENASA (Middle Eastern North African Student Association), was hosting a bonfire at the Union on a Monday. This picture was before anybody came, but the weather was so nice and the sky was beautiful. All of that before it got dark and people started coming, because there is no timing like Arab timing. I decided I was going to eat some dark chocolate even though I was trying to eat healthy. I definitely made the best of it. I love walking to the Union, but only if I get dark chocolate. (180)

Figure 2 – The Union Blacksburg courtyard. Original photograph, Freddy Karras.

B is for Basketball

Basketball is definitely not my favorite sport; I prefer soccer. I played soccer growing up and during high school. I’ve loved it for the longest time, but I play basketball more now. I really like the pickup culture on campus. Everybody gets to play, and no one is judged if they aren’t as good as others. This motivated me to get better even though I was probably the worst on the courts. Now I am decent, and I love getting in a basketball game. I love walking to this court. (90)

Figure 3 – Basketball court, Pheasant Run Ct. Original photograph, Freddy Karras.

E is for Entering

Entering my house the very first time was unsettling. Every time I look at it, I think about the first time I got here, excited but overwhelmed. I was excited to have a house with my close friends and experience college with them. But something has always bothered me since I came to college. Life didn’t feel serious. I didn’t have someone behind me. The moment I walk through that door, I’m on my own. My parents would help me with housework. They came a few weekends ago. I was really happy. But outside this door is where I said bye to them as well. Living alone helped me realize that I love my parents and I would love to live with them again. I have to learn to be independent. I always remember how much I need my parents. But I make the most out of it when I’m not with them. Like occasionally calling and joking with my dad, cooking in the kitchen and showing my mom on FaceTime. I did not love walking away from my parents. (180)

Figure 4 – Outside the door of my house. Original photograph, Freddy Karras.

C is for Campus

Campus walks at night are the best; it’s all silence, and nothing is there to bother me. Just me and the glowing lights. With the beautiful Hokie Stone staring at me. The walk from the gym at night all the way to the bus stop is honestly my form of therapy. It made me realize how much I like this town and everything in it, especially that Hokie Stone. On the bus I’ll just sit in some more silence, hoping one day I’ll build my house out of Hokie stone. (90)

Figure 5 – Maroon on Virginia Tech campus Original photograph, Freddy Karras.

M is for Mensasa

Last week, I walked down the street to Maryam’s house, the president of Menasa, the club I am on the board for. It wasn’t far, considering it’s right down Patrick Henry, where I live. That street has become a sentiment. As every time I walk down, I plan Mensa events with other members of the board. It bonds us together. This time around we were meeting to make Dolma, a Middle Eastern dish. I was reminded of the street of my grandma’s house, before I would eat my favorite meal. (90)

Figure 6 – Rolling Dolma for Menasa Event Original photograph, Freddy Karras.

S is for Scooter

I know this project is about walking, but sometimes I get tired of walking all my trails on campus. My favorite one is when I am literally right behind Pamplin on the other side, but I have to go all the way around Derring just to park my scooter. I love driving it fast, maneuvering through people, then realizing later that’s probably not a good idea. I’m probably not ready for a car. But taking care of the scooter and fixing it definitely taught me some important things about cars. (90)

Figure 7- Scooter tracking app Original photograph, Freddy Karras.

T is for Turner’s

Down from Goodwin, I always find myself at Turner’s. Since I don’t have a dining plan anymore, I don’t go to the dining halls often anymore. One of my cousins came to visit me and tour the school (he’s a senior in high school). So I took him to the Qdoba in Turner’s, and he loved it. Not as much as me, though; I love getting extra pickled green peppers. Turner’s, with Qdoba, in my opinion, is the best hall. The most consistent place to go when missing campus food. (90)

Figure 8 – Qdoba bowl. Original photograph, Freddy Karras.

G is for Goodwin

Living in Slusher Hall, everything was mildly close. But Goodwin was a different story. Walking there now feels like a movie from the past. That walk was longer than I expected at first. But honestly, I would sometimes make it long on purpose and reminisce on the beginning of my Virginia Tech journey. All the memories of my first engineering class were coming back and reminding me that I enjoyed walking to Goodwin, even when I had to run all the way to my dorm to get the group presentation. (90)

Figure 9—This is my engineering class in Goodwin during instrument performances. Original photograph, Freddy Karras.

W is for War Memorial

After finishing my classes I often feel the burden of stress. In order to alleviate that stress, I turn to the gym. The War Memorial has always been an impressive sight.  As I walk through the drill field, I take in the sun and the gentle breeze. I feel my body relax, my mind beginning to think of the exercises I would aim to complete at the gym. I leave the academic pressure in the back of my mind and think of the stability offered to me by the War Memorial. (90)

Figure 10—This is a locker in the gym that I always use. Original photograph, Freddy Karras.

A series of appreciations for the home-away from home I have found here at college and beyond.

A is for Animate

a moment of awe, video and text, oct. 1

Video 01. The camera is pointed towards a sunset reflected in a building’s windows. It then pans over to the actual sunset, appearing over the top of nearby buildings. 

It was 7:22pm on Wednesday night in early fall. I was exiting the surge, the building that housed my last class of the day. I hardly noticed what my friend to my right was saying, too busy looking ahead at the sunset. I couldn’t see the real thing yet, blocked by surge’s steadfast walls. Instead the reflection of the scene onto nearby windows had gripped me, and I was oblivious to the world around me. I think I commented on the sight, how beautiful it seemed. I think my friend replied in kind, and revealed that they had commented the same, I simply hadn’t noticed, too distracted by the sight itself. There’s a hope that burrows itself deep in my heart when I see things like this. The windows that reflected the sunset were cold, unfeeling planes, rigid and regimented and set in ugly tan stone. Man-made to the core, more focused on functionality than anything else. But for that moment, during those golden hours, it was beautiful. It was man and nature in a certain kind of peace, harmony, unity. You can look at the grass beside the road and see it half dead and littered with humanities refuse. You can see oil pumps scattering the plains of Texas like so many ticks, sucking more and more blood from the earth, eternally thirsty, never satisfied. And then you can look up at the windows of a building, its eyes, the gateway to whatever works as its soul, and you can see the soothing gradient of the sun relaxing into night, its heaven bound duties done for the day. (270)

B is for building

a chill down the spine, photograph and text, oct. 29

Figure 09. The image shows a distant mountain, blurred almost to obscurity by a thick fog.

The day is October 29, only two days away from Halloween. There is anticipation in the fall air, and an added layer to the crispness of the season. The low fog hanging over the mountains only serves to heighten this oncoming excitement, even nature herself seems to be getting ready for a celebration of the spookiest time of the year. Just as I pass homes with fake cobwebs strewn about and pumpkins carved with little faces, I walk by the mountains and their opaque cloaks. It’s almost funny in a way. The old hunks of rock and stone and dirt don’t move so much as an inch, but their clothes flow and weave through the air in a performance far better than any a human could put on. Even as I get on the bus, there’s still an almost imperceptible buzz to the air, as we all feel the weekend approaching. The bodies back together in the great belly of the beast, and conversations inevitably slide towards who will be what, and what’s going where. Though we can’t see it, the moon is preparing itself too, a bright and perfect half circle, suspended far above. The rising in your chest as something so fun approaches is contagious, delightful, and slightly addictive. (270)

C is for Crickets

A lovely seat, photograph and text, sept 30

Figure 01. A stone wall covered with moss. A small patch on its top has been brushed clean of leaf debris, making a convenient seat to stop and hear the crickets chirp. (Original picture, Claire Smith)

When she exits the front door, it is the serene gray of clouds that greet her, not the sun lying in aching blue. When she walks down the path, it is the smell of softly rotting leaves that greets her, not the fresh summer breeze. When she looks out towards the mountains, it is sprinklings of red that greet her, not young fresh green life carpeting all. When she closes her eyes and listens, crickets greet her, their chirps heralding the season of twilight, of the slow death before sleep. (90)    

D is for Darkness

a moment of comfort, photograph and text, oct. 29

Figure 10. A lamppost stands tall and proud in the somewhat dim light, its head a butter yellow.

Our campus doesn’t really exist all in light or all in dark. Out here, where we are bordered with mountains at every turn, is far different from the flat home I am used to up north. Where I grew up, the cities and streetlamps make it so there’s never true darkness, always a haze of light over all. Tech is very different. The light pollution, though present, is much diminished. At night, there is near total darkness, with small glowing pockets of light around every lamppost. It almost feels like a giant laid down candle after candle to guide your way. They have a warmth to them that is so often lacking in today’s lights. The lamp here is a perfect example. Though I did not take this picture in the darkness, the lamp still has a comforting yellow glow to it, with a bright haze surrounding it. Against the backdrop of the gray gray sky, I can’t help but be grateful for it. The post itself is its own contrast as well, with its inky black body and illuminated head. (180)

E is for Even

a flash of hope, photograph and text, oct.10

Figure 05. The sky is completely cloudy except for a single small gap, through which a clear blue can be seen. The horizon appears dark and foreboding, but it’s clear, even with such ominous clouds, that the sun still shines. 

Even when rain hangs low and heavy, even when the land is cast in shadow, even when the morning drags instead of lifts, even when your sock slips off your heel in your shoe, even when your clothes don’t lay right on your body, even when your food tastes like ash in your mouth, even when your coffee is cold and your tea is watery, even when your bus is late and your umbrella is missing, even when your hands are cold but your head is hot, even when your faucet is leaky and your neighbors are loud, even when your bread is stale and your water is cold, even when your eyes itch and burn and the work still isn’t done, even when you stain your clothes and rip your papers, even when you get no reply, even when your books are overdue and bills aren’t paid, even when your feet ache and your back strains, even when your home is cloaked in the inky shadows of night, even then is the sun waiting to shine on you again. (180)

F is for Future

a delightful shiver, photograph and text, oct. 31

Figure 11. Distant clouds hover above a mountain of patchwork colors.

The clouds above are unmistakably winter clouds, the kind that herald snow, now or later. They have the same white top, the same almost purple bottoms, and float about in patches. Even though its the last day of October, with a whole November to stand between us and true winter, the clouds serve as a reminder, and a warning, and a promise all in one. You can feel it in the air as it sharpens from crisp to bitingly cold. You know winter is coming, foretold in the sky above. (90)

G is for Gift

a fleeting gift, photograph and text, nov. 2

Figure 12. A rather poor picture, taken inside a car, of a corridor of trees that open into a view of the distant horizon.

This picture is not my best, taken in one hand as I paused at a stop sign near my house. The trees in the distance are barely visible and the clouds above aren’t exactly the interesting ones I love to document. But the thing about this picture is that it’s not actually meant for me. When me and my friends all split off for college, our journeys took us all over America. For two of my friends, New York city is their reality, every day, in and out. They both enjoy it, but I could tell from our messages that they wanted more of the fall changing colors, of nature reacting to the colder weather. To me, there are few better ways to view that than cresting the hill that takes me home, where a valley tracing up into a mountain is centered dead ahead, and the trees line the street like a parade. Of course, my phone barely captures the beauty and scope of the scene, but I have a feeling my friend won’t mind. (180)

H is for Heart

a passion in the heart, photograph and text, oct 24.

Figure 08. The blue sky in the background and the green tree in the foreground serve as a perfect contrast for the singularly most vibrantly red tree I have ever seen in my life. The changing of the seasons has done  a number on this particular piece of greenery, to the point that “greenery” couldn’t be a more inaccurate term. 

Hearts are red, everyone knows this. They are the physicalization of love, they are violently alive, they are blood, they are red. Sometimes the leaves themselves appear like little hearts, their flicking in the breeze so akin to that many thousand thready pulses. It’s fitting, in a way, that this is their last hurrah before they all die and fall off. Almost as if they know their fate, and their fear causes their hearts to beat ever faster, blood pumping harder, color coming in stronger. Maybe it isn’t fear, but excitement. It’s called a last “hurrah” for a reason, and perhaps the plants in question are trying all to out do each other in a dazzling last encore before the year’s curtain call. I know my heart began to beat faster when I saw the leaves in question. I was outside a chipotle, awaiting the completion of my order, my eyes skating aimlessly around me. I had to do a double take when I saw the tree in the photo, it was so rich and saturated. A gift from Autumn. (180)

I is for Imagine

a distant friend, photograph and text, oct. 2

Figure 03. The camera is pointed towards a snippet of a distant mountain range. The peaks, though still covered in green at this time, appear in shades of blue. The photographer seems to be ignoring the busy foreground of a college campus, the focus of the camera is above the hubbub of daily life. 

The mountains are a constant presence in Blacksburg. They form the horizon in every direction, a ring of staunch sentinels, silent and steady. They are older than I can comprehend, and “live” on a scale that I cannot grasp in any way that matters. I like to picture them as old men, in line with classic appalachian folk lore, the kind of old men who refuse to move because they know that if they do their front yard, a safe haven for endangered hummingbirds, will be repossessed by the local government and turned into a fast food restaurant. The kind of withered old geezer that fought in a war they don’t teach you about anymore, who’s devoted to his brothers in arms but always willing to make a new friend. The kind of stalwart fogey that snores like a woodchipper on this favorite chair, and refuses to move. There are a lot of things he could be, many names you could give him. Many lives he could have lived. Sometimes you just have to talk to him and find out. (180)

J is for Journey

a moment of excitement, photograph and text, nov. 7

Figure 13. A picture taken at the top of a hill, where a sweeping arm of colorful trees curls around the sidewalk.

This is the first time I have ventured to see my sister at her home in college while we are both at school. This is the first time she has invited me specifically, instead of the open invitation that she offers constantly, a door left ajar and unlocked. I think I would have been too nervous to do this in my freshman year, too worried about falling behind in classes or just too tired with all the homework I would have to do. But today, as I walk away from my last class of the day, a test I have just completed, the world feels spectacularly inviting. I took this photo to show her, as her neighborhood in North Carolina does not have nearly as much color as we do here in the mountains. It feels like all my thoughts are directed towards my trip and my sister like a magnet. Everything I see suddenly seems extremely newsworthy, something I should tell her about right away. The walk to the bus loop is one I take often, and it’s become a muscle memory. The same stop, the same bench, the same few people and the same time. It’s nice in a way, the familiarity. But this time there’s a novelty to it, akin to the feeling of having a field trip instead of school, of the morning before a fun trip, the eve of your birthday. A charge to the air, that speaks of incoming happiness. It snaps and crackles around and in me, little pops in my chest, like bubbles or poppers. My smile is distracted, my gaze distant. (270)

K is for Known

the start of a walk with jane, photograph and text, nov. 8

Figure 14. Another corridor of trees provide a cover for sunbeams peaking through puffy clouds that are almost blue.

Anyone who has a sibling knows that they are one of the strangest relationships you’ll have in your life. Right now I am nowhere near where I usually walk. This is not my neighborhood, not my home. This is my sister’s turf, where she treads daily. We stroll aimlessly, catching up as best we can, trying to bridge the distance that always grows between us when we’re apart for a while. She pauses indulgently to let me take a picture of the clouds as I comment on them for the 5th time. She knows how much I love them, she would not deny me this. We have grown and raised in the same home, i know how she faces adversity, i know how she deals with annoyance, rage, happiness, peace. I know how her favorite color bounced from purple to blue when she was still trying to be different, I know how she used to pour hours into her homework until she could lay down for a 15 minute nap and instantly fall asleep. I know we love each other. (180)

L is for Lull

a view from underneath, photograph and text, sept. 30

Figure 02. The camera is aimed towards the sky, capturing the cloud cover. The pattern of the clouds appears like the underside of water, as if the photographer is in the ocean, looking up.

Sand rests beneath, and the roiling sea above. Sound is muffled, water cradling the head, preventing sharp slices of sound. The air I breathe is set aside for the fantasy, that I lie under the waves. It aches, the symmetry this world provides. Patterns endlessly repeating, a gift that never stops renewing its generous beauty. On land, I drown in work and stress. Ensconced below the frozen and fluffy waves of my own creation, I can breathe. There are so many parallels on this earth, so many little things mirrored over and over. I love trying to find them throughout my day, seeking the comfort they bring. Truly, there is nothing new on this planet, only familiar comforts taking on new shapes. There is a fear of the unknown shared by all humankind, if you keep your eyes open, and try to notice the world around you, is it really unknown at all? If you only have the eyes to see, as a flower unfurls its petals, so too will your own nature, as you gain peace in this world. (180)

M is for Music

a moment of peace, video and text, oct. 12

Video 02. The wind combs through the trees with an absent minded hand, fading in and out. The leaves twitch as they are blown about. The sound is unlike anything else, thousands of paper-thin hands all fluttering against each other, brushing like the turning of so many pages.

Music comes in many forms, even in the natural world. From the sound of babbling brooks, to crashing waterfalls. The calls of coyotes to the chirps of cardinals. Even the silence of the stars spinning in the heavens. But few things can compare to the sound of the wind weaving through the trees. I captured this video on the front stoop of my home, the screen door propped open on my shoulder uncomfortably. I was entranced by the scene, only because I had stopped to watch and listen. On my way to the car, I was struck by the thought that the sound was much louder than usual, and, for reasons both superficial (I needed to record something for this assignment) and inexplicable (something about the noise gripped me, and I recorded far longer than what would be required) I stopped, took out my phone, and started to take a video. I am a musician, I started on piano, I am continuing with violin and bass guitar. Violins specialize in melody, bass handles, understandably, the bass. This is something more. (180)

N is for New

the middle of a walk with jane, photograph and text, nov. 8

Figure 15. The clouds swirl with golden highlights above a peaceful suburban scene.

We continue our walk, the clouds revealing a new aspect of the sky. She pauses again to let me take a picture. The fresh air is so different from the Blacksburg I’ve been experiencing these past few days. The air is warmer, and the sun seems to stay in the sky longer. That, combined with her presence, means I’m happier, more willing to share whatever I can. We talked about our childhood, shared between just the two of us. How she saw things, how I saw things. A new perspective. (90)

O is for Opulent

the end of a walk with jane, photograph and text, nov. 8

Figure 16. The sun sets golden and bright on the horizon, bathing the bottoms of the clouds in gossamer tones.

We’re on the last leg of our walk, the conversation flowing neatly, no need to push it on laboriously. We turn a corner and I see the sun in the corner of a painted canvas sky, golden and covering the rest of the sky in gold. I have always loved the skies around my sister, they have a way of inspiring awe in even the most stoic of hearts. (hers, because she’s heard me talk about clouds enough times to be fed up.) We stop for the final time, and I take as many pictures as I please. She’s telling me about the latest in her life, and I make sure she pauses while I snap my photos. Both these things require my full attention, and the clouds are that much more fleeting. She never begrudges me this, to my relief. She pauses to, and for a second that stretches comfortably, we just stare together at the sky. It really is beautiful, and I can’t help but be overjoyed that I decided to visit. There is so much joy here. (180)

P is for Puzzled

a moment of confusion, photograph and text, nov. 10

Figure 17. A picture taken through a window of a patchy layer of snow on the ground.

When I was a kid, snow was something of legend. Kids would devolve into rituals, passed down from elementary schooler to elementary schooler. everything from leaving your pjs outside to flushing ice down the toilet. Any hint of the stuff was the only news that would be talked about, besides what game to play later. So when I woke up this morning and found a whole (thin) layer of it on the ground I was highly confused. Not only had I received no mention of this, but it’s early november? (90) 

Q is for Quite

a stalwart friend, photograph and text, nov. 14

Figure 18. A single lamppost stands a silent vigil with pink dusted clouds in the background.

The lamppost has become a friendly presence in my daily walks. Right outside my front door, it greets me cheerily in the early morning and late at night. I can’t help but be reminded of the lamppost in “The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe”, and those little British kids that went with it. The lamppost seems more British the more you look at it. Bright and yellow, you could mistake it for gas, thinking it belongs more on the streets of London than a random suburb in southwest Virginia. I should break out my kettle and biscuits, have a, quite lovely i might add, tea just for myself. The lamppost is stalwart like those brits too, doesn’t complain or talk about anything. Perhaps that’s a strange thought to have towards an inanimate piece of civil architecture, but aren’t walks supposed to increase your brainpower, creativity, and overall blood flow? We can hardly help the funny little ideas that flit about our heads when we amble along, and, truly, would we want to? I should give him a British moustache. (180)

R is for Rest

a flash of jealousy, photograph and text, oct. 3

Figure 04 A glimpse of a line of fog is visible through distractions in the foreground. The sky is completely clear, the only cloud around is the one lurking in the valley before the mountain begins.

The mist rests sleepily in the valleys just off the mountain range, cradled by the tree covered crags. It slides through the leaves still adorning the trees, brushing each and every one with its icy breath. It will burn away from the sun soon, and vanish up high where the clouds are wispy and the sky is the kind of clear blue that makes your eyes tear up, it’s so bright. But for now it relaxes in a hammock of branch and stone. Considering how early it is, I’m jealous. (90)

S is for Sassy

who is that diva?, photograph and text, oct. 18

Figure 06. As if framed, part of a tree trunk is encircled by a ring of leaves in. the tree trunk has two branches growing out of it, branches that startlingly resemble a supermodel striking a pose at the end of a runway, one hand on the hip while the other dangles casually, boldly, at the tree’s side. 

Humans-like seeks like- anthropomorphize- we see ourselves in everything- we bestow ourselves upon everything – we take on the likeness of everything – how bold is that? – to be yourself and to make “yourself” something of others – to let yourself feel – to know and be known – to shout to the world that you are unapologetically you – and prove it by taking on pieces of others – the people who achieve this are confident – they greet the world with kindness and open eyes – they make the sidewalk their stage – the individuals around them become a collective – a troupe – cartwheeling – dragging your feet – back straight – back hunched – a grinning mask – a miserable mask – presenting their performance that isn’t a performance -it’s just themselves – the tree puts on no airs – it cannot – its nature is unapologetic – its nature is to be unapologetic – nature does not say sorry – nature does not say goodbye – it has an attitude – it’s apathetic – its multiple things at once – and why not? – no man is an island – no performer can be called such without an audience – we are our audience – we applaud and cheer and heckle and shame – the tree strikes a pose – the tree grew that way naturally – it is unconcerned – we see inspiration in it – ourselves in it – humor in it – a story in it – something to share – and what do we as a species do but share? – our lives, our beings – our habits, our homes – our funny little ways of talking – my sister learned to raise one eyebrow – learned to give the worst side-eye you’ve ever seen – she shared that with me many times – sassy and herself and me. (270)

T is for Tinder

a fire in the heart, photograph and text, oct. 24

Figure 07. Two trees are lit by the rising sun. Their tops are a bright yellow-green, like the wick of a lit candle. The sky is blue and white behind them.

The morning strikes like flint and steel igniting the day ahead. This is not to say, however, that it lights a fire under me, quite the opposite. Mornings are full of drudging, trudging, groaning laments of the lack of a warm bed in the safety of my head. In some ways, the walk from my house to my bus stop, the constant muse for many of the pictures, is a help. I am forced to see the beauty around me, and ponder it. It truly makes the mornings more lovely. (90)

U is for Unlock

a moment for nostalgia, photograph and text, nov. 15

Figure 19. A beige locker sits in a cinderblock wall. It has two lonely stickers adorning it.

My locker is nowhere near my usual route. It’s in squires, by Henderson, completely beyond everywhere else I need to go. It’s also the center of my minor, where everything violin oriented I do is. I only had a combination locker one year, 8th grade, and I had forgotten how nice it feels to have the tumblers fall into place. My walk through squires is one I’ve slowly perfected through use of back stairwells and unused hallways. Sometimes it’s a teensy bit thrilling, to sneak around breaking into such things. (90)

V is for Violent

a moment of anticipation, photograph and text, nov. 19

Figure 20. Half of the sky is still light, while the other has been overtaken by dark gray clouds.

There is a violence brewing on the horizon, a rolling like an avalanche, burying us all under its darkness. I love this part of the storm cycle, when its not yet covered everything and there is still light to see it in all of its entirety. The wind here is much stronger and much more biting than what I’m used to at home. When I travel to the bus stop every morning, I have to be wary of the neck, the same wind that blows in the clouds trying to sneak its cold fingers down my back. My headphones always cover my ears, providing a respite, but there’s only so much my jacket can do. It’s all worth it anyway, to get those great swirls and crests in the clouds above, like some great wave just waiting to break upon the rocks. It tosses the birds around carelessly, throwing them about even as they try to fly. It is as unforgiving as it is uncaring, not a drop of maliciousness to be found. I think we both enjoy these storms. (180)

W is for weight

a shot of my mother, photograph and text, oct. 18

Figure 21. a woman is posed at the base of a large tilted stone, almost appearing as if she is holding it up.

In my family, my father is not the one known for often groan-worthy jokes; that title goes to my mom. We think alike in many ways, and when we both saw this stone on our hike, I could tell almost immediately what she wanted. She was excited, handing me her phone, and I think that’s very visible in the picture. The hike definitely wasn’t part of my every day route, but neither was having my family come to visit. Sometimes you need to step away from that weight of monotony. (90)

X is for Xenogenesis

an attempt, photograph and text, dec. 1

Figure 22. A poorly folded squirrel languishes in a hand. Its tail droops and its its head looks vaguely like an armadillo.

Defined as “the fancied production of an organism altogether and permanently unlike the parent”, I have attempted my own Xenogenesis, in the form of an origami squirrel. I am not very good at origami, though I tried to capture the feeling of a squirrel. I see them everywhere, no matter where I walk, and no matter what time I am walking. They often escape my notice, and are deemed unimportant, so I thought I would produce an animal out of a sheet of paper, to represent these poor neglected fellows. (90)

Y is for Yellow

a familiar sort of sky, photograph and text, dec. 1

Figure 23. A sunset captured above maroon loop, with clouds like wispy trails across the sky.

The sky is a canvas today, not 3d like I normally see it. It appears flat, but no less beautiful for it. The sun is yellow, its harsh white light softened by the horizon. There are strips of white where it touches the blue, blurring it further. It resembles nothing so much as a great fried egg suspended in the sky. To me, it looks like the person trying to flip it has failed miserably, and now has an egg bordering on scrambled. This problem I have faced many times. (90)

Z for Zeitgeist

a moment for thought, photograph and text, dec. 1

Figure 24. A number of colorful murals decorate the walls of the center for the arts.

Zeitgeist, as was defined to me in my first semester at college, is the ghost of the time, or the feeling of a certain era, as prescribed by the (usually young) people living in that era. This mural reminds me of that, of how things have changed throughout the years. Nowadays, public art is much more abstract than it has ever been. I snatched this pic on the outside of the center for the arts, previously known as the Moss arts center. It was far outside my usual walking patterns, and I only saw it because I was making my way to the bus stop with a friend after lunch. It felt like a hidden scene, tucked away for students to find in an otherwise drab area. I couldn’t help but appreciate it, even as I pondered on its style. We live in a world more concerned with showing strict correctness than in our past. This means that, instead of yet another mural of the same type white man, we get pleasing colors and patterns with no particular political leaning. (180)

My walking entries began first with simple trips of my daily commute from my off-campus apartment to my classes. As I began completing more specific prompts, I became more observant of my surroundings. Internally, I realized my own mood and thoughts were also being influenced by my walk. Something as simple and changeable as pollution was a topic I pondered about as I walked. What was first a routine trip to places such as Bollo’s, a Virginia Tech sports game, or even the bus stop became an archive of my sensory details, reflections, and small discoveries. Through these simple walks, I began noticing a shift in what I previously considered to be ordinary paths. The same hill could feel stressful with heavy groceries, peaceful on a sunny morning, or nostalgic after weeks of distance. 

One major theme was the coexistence of movement and my emotions. I tied walks to my memories in that area; stress from walk backs from study rooms, excitement from winning a basketball game, and facing unexpected harsh weather. Another idea I repeatedly found myself thinking about was the contrast from man-made environments and the natural world. Some days, my walk focused on the sky and trees, while other days, I was surrounded by Hokie stone. 

On each walk, I aimed to diversify my multimodal elements. I used videos and audio recordings to capture my surroundings that weren’t clear by a mere photo. They gave more detail when I had been walking through dead leaves in the grass on a late autumn day or when I was waiting in line at my favorite bakery. The combination of the mixed media and writing helped define walking through gathering, interpreting, and understanding the experience from different perspectives. 

Overall, the alphabetical entries forced me to think about each walk at Virginia Tech from various viewpoints. Each entry is a memory of my journey through this college and I am excited to continue to use walking as a way to broaden my viewpoints.

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A is for Apartment

Prompt 2.32 Shortest Walk; Photograph and text; Sunday, Oct. 5

The car was nearby. Groceries were in hand. My palms felt sweaty. Bags had sharp objects. The bags began ripping. Walk. Faster. Run if you can. But I couldn’t run. The groceries were heavy. Stress muddled my mind. I couldn’t drop food. I spent $75. My palms began hurting. Each step felt extensive. Would I make it? I climbed the hill. It wasn’t over though. Now, there were stairs. Twelve lengthy steps. Just do one. Another one more. Just one more. I finally finished climbing. Just ten more feet. Home. (90)

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B is for Basketball Game

Prompt 2.08 Sporting Event, Photograph and text; Wednesday, Oct. 19

The evening air didn’t feel cold as I walked from near the Blacksburg library to Cassell Coliseum. Instead of going alone again, I was with my friend. I could hear other Hokies also talking excitedly as they walked towards Cassell. This was my second time at a Virginia Tech basketball game, and I immediately knew it would be more enjoyable than the first time. I felt calm and safe as I chatted with my friend. When we entered the arena, I could smell the concession stand foods. I was excited. (90)

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C is for Camera

Prompt 2.09 Hahn Horticulture Garden, Photograph and text; Saturday, Oct. 5

On the rare occasions I go to this garden, my feet immediately take me to the bridge. My mind goes quiet when I’m sitting above the stream, whose only voice is the trickling water moving past. My ears focus on the birds chirping and fish splashing. It’s peaceful today. If I move to the other side of the bridge, it wouldn’t be though. The ongoing construction and talking take away from the bridge’s beauty. Two sides of the same bridge yield contrasting reactions from me. On one, where my bench is a yard away from the construction fences, the human sounds make me want to leave. The noise is no better than home. On the other side, I can close my eyes peacefully and feel my worries leaving me. This garden is essential to Virginia Tech. In a place bustling with students and everyone moving quickly to reach their next destination, no one stops to enjoy the scenery. Hahn Horticultural Garden gives me a break, though. I’m removed from humanity’s struggles. Instead, all I have are my thoughts and nature. (180)

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D is for Drillfield

Prompt 2.34 Directions for a First Year Student; Photograph and text; Wednesday, Sept. 24

Dear Future Hokie, these next four years will fly by. It’s hard to take it all in, there’s always so much happening. In Blacksburg, there’s so many things that you could simply walk to. The Farmer’s Market is open on Saturday’s from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM. Squire’s has an affordable breakzone where you can meet friends to go bowling, play pool, play darts, and so much more. I know it’s freeing to not have parental control 24/7. However, just make sure to stay true to your values. (90)

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E is for Emotions in Line

Prompt 2.16 Waiting in Line; Audio and text; Monday, Nov. 10

Audio track 01. A 9 second audio recording of me in line with 6 people ahead while waiting to buy a pastry at Bollo’s bakery. (Original recording, Nitya Ganta)

I’m at my favorite bakery again. Bollo’s. It’s almost a second home and the long lines are almost comforting. After parking in Squire’s the line is the slowest part of the walk. But no one’s frustrated or bored. They’re all conversing and excited for their treat. It feels like the bakery unites us. Instead of uneasiness or impatience, we’re all just excited to be here. The warmth and background chatter make it all worth it. And so I’ll wait. It’s the least I can do for a bakery that’s home. (90). 

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F is for Finding the Right Pair

Prompt 2.02 Shoe Portraits, Shoe Memories; Photograph, audio, and text; Saturday, Nov. 22

Audio track 02. A 17 second audio recording of me in my daily Brooks walking shoes while walking through leaves on grass. (Original recording, Nitya Ganta)

I’ve had my current pair of shoes for over a year now. I didn’t plan on buying them, but my Nike Air Force’s began peeling, leaving the inside of the shoe to cut my ankle. Living without a car in college, I didn’t have many shoe options to buy without trying them on. So, I bought a pair of Brooks – a company I already used for running. The pair fit me perfectly and have carried me hundreds of miles. I’ve had no issues with pain or with deterioration. 

Today, I decided to wear this same pair of black and white Glycerin GTS 21 as I walked around my community. I walked through dirt paths, crossed pavement, and stepped on crunchy fall leaves to get to my destination. This was a normal day for these shoes. While I tried to keep them clean, I want to put them to good use. They’ve taken me through rainy walks home from the bus, trips through cities, and have even gone skydiving with me last year; these shoes are a part of my home. (180)

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G is for Gradient Sky

Prompt 2.03 Overhead at Time of Day; Photograph and text; Wednesday, Sept. 24

The sun is slowly setting at 6:50pm on this autumn Thursday. I can see the illuminating moon and I know it’s about 240,000 miles away. It looks magnificent in the pastel sky. Around it, the colors shift from blue to a mix of pink and purple. As I’m walking downtown, the sky looks surreal. There isn’t a cloud in sight and the buildings pale in comparison with their bland colors. I could stare at this sky forever and it feels like the sky is holding a breadth, watching. (90)

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H is for Hilly Path

Prompt 2.17 Desire Paths;  Photograph and Text; Wednesday, Oct. 10

There’s a desired path that starts at the Maroon loop, wraps around the side of Durham Hall, and ends at Barger St. I’ve used this path to get from Turner’s to the bus. It’s hillier than the sidewalk that lies 10 feet from it. Yet, I, like so many other Hokies, use this downhill path to not miss my bus and get home just a little faster. It was driven by desires and goals to make a bus, and it will only get more prominent as the winter cold starts. (90)

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I is for In My Backpack

Prompt 2.23 The Things You Carry; Photograph and Text; Saturday, Nov. 22

In my backpack, there are 5 items I always carry: headphones, pencil case, folder, laptop, planner. My laptop is the most essential. The one time I left it at my apartment, I went home to bring it back to campus. Secondly, I need my headphones. The constant chattering in work spaces is distracting if I don’t have them. The next most important item is my planner. I easily feel lost in my tasks if it’s not next to me. I forget what to prioritize and how much work I have to do that day. The folder and pencil case have equal importance to me. Without one, the other one is useless. In my folder, are my exam notes and blank papers to study for classes.

However, this has no correlation to how old they are. I’ve had my Yoobi pink pencil case since I was 11. My headphones, hand-me-downs from my brother, and my laptop are 4 years old. My folder was given by my dorm hall mate freshman year. These five items alone have shaped my academics in college. (180)

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J is for Just Another Step

Prompt 2.32 Shortest Walk; Photograph and Text; Wednesday, Nov. 19

I’m leaving Virginia Tech. Not permanently, of course. Just for Thanksgiving break. My left hand hurt. It gripped a cooler. I had a suitcase, too. Held on my right. Needed to descend steps. So. Heavy. Would I be sore? Maybe. I’ll know tomorrow. Hands were turning red. I felt weighed down. My friend’s car waited. The trunk was open. Thank goodness. Just 8 more steps. My friend saw me. She walked towards me. Then, grabbed my cooler. My hand felt lighter. I lifted the suitcase. Placed in the trunk. Victory. (90)

K is for Keepers of the Fallen

Prompt 2.27 4/16 Memorial; Photograph and Text; Wednesday, Nov. 19

Even in the busy drillfield, this memorial feels quiet and peaceful. Unrelated thoughts cease to exist in my mind as I look at the names of the fallen. Many of them were younger than me, and it’s fitting that their names are engraved in the center of Virginia Tech. Even as the seasons change and the grass loses its color, this memorial will stand to remind us of the precious people we have lost. We were unable to protect them on April 16th, so we will keep them for eternity. (90)

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L is for Looking Around

Prompt 3.16 Non-Commercial Walk; Photograph and Text; Tuesday, Nov. 18

Off an exit of South Main St, two mini shopping complexes exist: one with B&B Theatres and one with Kroger. As I walked near B&B Theatres, I felt calm on the familiar path. Today was different, though. I wasn’t purchasing anything from Talbots, Ashley’s Store, or even Kroger. On this November night, I was still excited to browse the stores. I had to be careful not to damage anything. I could imagine myself in those clothes or cooking with Kroger ingredients. But today, I was only looking around. (90)

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M is for Midterm

Prompt 3.05 Drawn and Repelled; Photograph and Text; Wednesday, Oct. 1

The walk back to my apartment became unusually quiet whenever I stared ahead at the place I spent countless hours studying for my systems midterm. Laughter from sitting in random, empty classrooms echoes through my brain, along with the stress that was once felt in my chest. I felt repelled by the memories of stress, but drawn into the quiet strength I’ve gained. I see more than Hokie stone now. I see a map of who I’ve become. I think back to moments where I felt like I wasn’t enough, how imposter syndrome overtook my mind. Yet now, the Data and Decision Science building shows me my strength, that I too can excel. I wonder if this suffocating feeling is common to others when they look at places that once tested them. Even on cold, windy days, I know I’ll think back to the early autumn breeze I felt on Wednesday, October 1st when exhaustion softened into reflection. As the leaves fall and the air turns cold, I’ll be back in those same empty rooms, preparing even harder for exams. (180) 

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N is for Night Game

Prompt 2.08 Sporting Event; Photograph and text; Friday, Oct. 23

My second game this season. My first year buying the season pass. I had to make the most out of the experience – including all the walking. By the end, I had 13,000 steps. The walk from the Hub to the UCB bus stop; the trek from Orange loop to Lane Stadium. The air smelt fresh with the prominent autumn breeze. As we walked, I heard other Hokies talking excitedly. The noise only increased the closer we got. My heart raced with the anticipation to come. I could taste victory. (90)

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O is for Oak Tree

Prompt 2.10 Favorite Tree, A Note of Appreciation; Photograph and text; Tuesday, Oct. 21

Dear Old Oak Tree,

I’ve had my eyes on you since I first transferred here. As the seasons changed and your leaves fell, I’ve seen you adapt. You’ve been here for decades, maybe even a century. How has this felt? Are you upset about the constant construction? Or excited for the growing changes? Does the increase of students feel overwhelming? Or are you excited to see even more faces? Last spring, I was constantly around you. I’m a mentor at an elementary school club, and my mentee loved you. She would search around you for growing flowers. She even tried climbing you but I had to stop her. I couldn’t risk her getting hurt. Sometimes, I would let her take a couple of your leaves home. As a little souvenir of her visits to Virginia Tech. When I look at you, I think of those fond memories and how much I’ve grown since. You’re always in the corner of those moments, steady and watching the world change. Thank you for staying strong and know I’m rooting for you.

Love,
Nitya (180)

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P is for Plastic Pollution

Prompt 2.24 Meditation on Garbage; Photograph and text; Tuesday, Sept. 30

On my walk to class, a plastic cup was deep into the brushes. It was on Main Street, and I think of how I’ve seen people walking downtown polluting the environment on weekend nights. Maybe this cup has a similar story. On campus, nature is often untouched as Hokies focus more on academics. Near Torgensen Hall and Gilbert Place, the streets are clean and well-kept. However, busier places, like downtown, have trash and pollution on weekends. Why do Hokies care less when they’re off campus? Our campus is so clean. (90)

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Q is for Quiet Routine

Prompt 3.01 Reflective Preparatory Writing; Photograph and text; Monday, Oct. 27

Another day as a VT student. Another morning of the downhill trek on Main St. to get to class. I had 2 options: bus or walk. I decided to walk. In the gloomy autumn air, my choice is deliberate. I walk slowly, my mind crowded with other responsibilities. My feet move just as slow and I am alone with my thoughts. It’s like clockwork every weekday. Through this routine, I’m forced to reconnect with nature. In a world of distractions and tasks, I am alone for the next 20 minutes. (90)

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R is for Regional Demographics

Prompt 3.18 Centering Data; Photograph and text; Monday, Oct. 17

The regional demographics of Montgomery County, Virginia is public information. In 2023, the median age was 30, which is heavily influenced by the age of students. The 3 largest ethnic groups are White (81.5%), Asian (6.15%), and Black (3.87%). The walking in my area is safe, and I attribute this to Blacksburg being a college town. Last year, I would walk back to my apartment around midnight after studying for exams. I am fortunate that safety isn’t a concern for me as I pursue my college degree. (90)

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S is for Sunset

Prompt 2.03 Overhead at Time of Day; Photograph and text; Saturday, Oct. 11

I had been staring down, only at the ground below. As I reached my apartment, I looked up and saw the view I almost missed. The sky’s gradient shifted from yellow to orange to pink, then to pastel purple and a darkening blue. The colors felt alive, yet impossibly unreachable. The clouds blended into the sky as one entity. Under this beauty, I become a small being, one with trivial problems. All my past worries seem to disappear for a second. How easy it is to forget the world’s beauty. (90)

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T is for Tread Carefully

Prompt 2.17 Desire Paths; Video and text; Sunday, Nov. 23

Video 01. A 23 second video of a desired path starting from a community sidewalk as a shortcut from a neighborhood to the commercial area (Original video, Nitya Ganta)

I found a new neighborhood path to follow around some community woods. The shape was similar to a C. Yet, in the middle of it, was a desired path to get to the commercial plaza. It shortened the walking time by only a minute, but the path was so apparent. As I began walking it, I realized a creek split the desired path in two. But still, there were footsteps on the rocks and bicycle tire treads on streambank. 

I wanted to cross too. I couldn’t merely step across the creek. Instead, I needed to walk across the pointy rocks to ensure I wouldn’t slip into the water or injure myself. It felt like a challenge. At first, I planned where to keep my feet. I waited a while in silence, where I told myself I was trying to find better foot placements but was actually second guessing myself. I had to just go for it. In two swift steps on the rocks, I was across. I guess I’m another one to leave the paved route when curiosity outweighs caution. (180)

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U is for Unnecessary Benches

Prompt 2.05 A Good Bench; Video and text; Saturday, Nov. 6

Video 02. A 10 second recording of two benches less than 50 feet apart on Drillfield Dr. (Original video, Nitya Ganta)

There are two benches next to each other. On Virginia Tech’s campus, near the drill field, this is where buses stop to pick up students. Sitting there, with another bench just 10 feet away, it feels unnecessary. In the 5 minutes I sat at one, I watched as people hurried to their classes or chatted with their friends. It showed me why people walked, and why people could prefer the bus. I wanted to join them. Now, I felt more motivated to continue my walk to also get to class. (90)

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V is for the Voices Surrounding Me

2.04 Overheard, Less Context; Audio and text; Sunday, Nov. 7

Audio track 03. A 10-second audio recording of me walking through Turners to get to class on a Friday afternoon. (Original recording, Nitya Ganta)

There’s voices everywhere. Wherever I turn, another student is speaking. They’re all so separate, but I process them as one, unable to tune everything out. One sticks out. They say “I knew we’d win the game”. There’s so many games he could be referring to. The Louisville football game from 6 days prior. His own sports match. Maybe he’s in an intramural league? Or maybe it’s not a physical game at all. Maybe it’s a video game. But he seems satisfied and proud. After all, he knew they would win. (90) 

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W is for Winter Peek

3.13 Seven-Day Walk; Video and text; Saturday, Nov. 15

Video 03. A 19 second video recording of the snow on November 10th as I was reaching Newman library after starting from Bookholders (Original video, Nitya Ganta)

My seven day walk was from Bookholders to Newman Library. 

November 9th: The weather is warm. The air smells fresh and it doesn’t feel like winter is starting. I hear the birds and the kind breeze.  

November 10th: It’s snowing. My hands are numb and I’m shivering. It feels impossible to reach Newman Library and all I can hear is my own breathing as I walk. I don’t think I’m prepared for winter. 

November 11th: It snowed again? The wind is harsh as I start from Bookholders. I see people hurrying to their destinations and it is silent. The snow seemed to wash away the existing scents. 

November 12th: The weather is getting better. My hands don’t feel cold when I go outside and I don’t see any snow. I can smell the bakery scents again and I no longer hear the harsh wind.

November 13th: The snow almost felt like a fever dream. It’s warm and sunny again. I don’t feel my winter jacket on me as it’s now at home. I hear people talking as they walk the same way as me. 

November 14th: I hear someone playing classical music on the piano today. Oh, how I miss the piano. I see them as I walk past that alley. I can smell coffee as I stop for a second to watch. I want this 65 degree weather to stay. 

November 15th: I’m with my friend this time. We see people playing instruments outside of Milk Parlor. Their soft, melodious music sounds lovely. This time, we stop by Bollo’s and get apple cinnamon muffins. What a beautiful last walk. (270)

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X is for Xylograph

2.18 A Wish for Something to be Different; Video and text; Sunday, Nov. 9

Video 04. A 13 second video of the public found downtown near Bollo’s and Coffeeholics (Original video, Nitya Ganta)

A xylograph could look beautiful on the piano. Downtown, near Coffeeholics, art exists on the walls and roads. What if it was added to the wood on the piano that sits in the center of it all as well? Intricate engravings on a complex instrument that’s played both on warm Saturday mornings during the farmers market and also near midnight on Friday nights. The piano’s witnessed the harsh winter winds and the humid summer afternoons. One artist would be all that’s needed for this change. Just someone talented in woodwork. (90)

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Y is for Yellow Leaves

Prompt 2.10 Favorite Tree, A Note of Appreciation; Photograph and text; Friday, Nov. 7

Dear Yellow Tree,

I’ve never seen one like you. With leaves so vibrant and bright like the sun in late autumn where others are already bare. On my walk to you, I saw red and brown leaves flood the ground, another sign of this beautiful season coming to an end. You, however, stay bright. Thank you for holding on for longer. The winters here are brutal, and it was a comfort to feel fall for just a little longer. I’ll think of your leaves in the coming cold. 

Love,
Nitya (90)

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Z is for Zen Finish

Prompt 2.16 Waiting in Line; Photograph and text; Monday, Nov. 10

Finally, I’m at the front. It’s my turn to order. I get the same pumpkin chocolate chip muffin. Almost as a celebration, I hear the Something in the Orange by Zach Bryan begin to play overhead. Another favorite of mine. I feel peaceful, full of zen. Grabbing the brown paper bag with my treat, I leave. Walking out, I thought I’d feel cathartic. Instead, I’m sad to leave my cozy bakery. But I have a piece of the place in my hand. Ready to be eaten when I reach home. (90)

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H is for Hike

2.35 Go For A Hike; Photograph and text; Sunday October 26th

As soon as you step foot onto the trail leading to the Cascades, it immediately feels alive, roots clutching at the earth, rocks aged with the passage of time, and a babbling creek moving alongside you that will always guide you. I hiked with friends, all of whom had varying experiences and expectations going into the hike, but all of whom were also in awe of what we found. The trail itself was not physically demanding, but still had our full attention throughout. When we finally saw the waterfall, it appeared like it had been poised for our arrival. The water tumbled in tiers, white against dark rock, dropping into a pool cold enough to make you gasp. We sat on nearby scattered boulders, very little was said, it didn’t feel like a place where you converse, it’s a place to look, to breathe, to be still. I hiked back slightly drenched in sweat and water. While not to sound corny, after the hike, I realized it really was not about the destination, rather the the journey with my friends. (180)

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P is for Path

2.21 Blacksburg’s Best Walk; Photograph and text; Monday, Sept. 29

George calls this Blacksburg’s best walk. Interestingly enough, I see why. No matter the season, the scene feels very calm. The trees lean gently toward each other, like old friends meeting halfway. Ahead, laughter drifts from the Prairie Court, with voices softened by distance. The path itself feels very familiar, but I have never walked it. Here, walking this path for the first time, time seemed to slow down. The world feels nicer, the air clearer, and the light posts glare down at me, as if asking me to stay. (90)

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R is for Roundabout

2.18 A Wish for Something to be Different; Photograph and text; Monday, Oct. 6th

At this roundabout of paths, symmetry tries, and fails, to hold. The circle’s center isn’t centered, the tree drifts right slightly off center. Each sidewalk meets the center unevenly, almost as if they are hesitating, uncertain which direction is correct. I walk, wondering if this imperfection was accidental. Maybe it mirrors people, as we have our own off-center movements through life. Still, I imagine smoothing the lines, reshaping the circle, centering the tree. I never noticed this asymmetry, in fact, I loved taking this path. Maybe beauty doesn’t need balance. (90)

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V is for Virginia Tech Football

2.04 Overheard, Less Context; Photograph and text; Saturday Nov 1st

In the center of the bleachers, halfway from the turf to the sky, I realized something was different this game. The score of Louisville winning 28 – 16 likely registered as only another loss for Virginia Tech to most. However, to me, the score held more weight than just that. Louisville is a solid team, everyone around me clearly knew that fact. There were multiple conversations about all the prior events that had transpired to bring Virginia Tech to this point in college football. During the fourth quarter, I listened to the comments of people around me. While disappointment was continuously expressed, there was no mention of anger, no comments about being outraged, but rather acknowledgement that the team had felt off for a while.

Eventually, I overheard an older man sitting in front of me say, “There’s only so much Montgomery (our coach) can do at this point.” And that’s when it clicked why Coach Pry had been fired two months earlier. I never had much understanding as to how much a coach contributes to the success of a football team and how our team’s current state could be attributed to Pry. But seeing everyone’s reaction to this game, although a loss, put into perspective how deeply leadership shapes the direction of a team. It wasn’t just about the score, it was about the feeling that a program is moving somewhere.

Standing there, surrounded by the sighs of students and alumni, I understood that our coach change was a necessity. Football programs at this stage either move forward or fall behind, and the crowd around me sounded ready to move. (270)

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T is for Twig

2.19 Duck Pond; Photograph and text; Monday, November 8th

At first gaze, the duck Pond looks very serene, a large body of water, little foot traffic, and dots of people scattered around like sprinkles on a donut. Today I noticed an object most would overlook, it was a single twig floating in the water in front of me. The twig itself had a bend or two and it drifted slowly across the pond. The ripples created by the twig’s movement caused it to bob up and down but did not disturb the twig’s ability to remain upright. 

While I sat there watching the twig I noticed that there were not many people around me. The only other living thing I saw was one duck, drifting along the pond, leaving a straight ripple trail behind itself. As the duck glided past, the twig continued its slow, intriguing drift, moving across unhurried, guided only by the gentle pull of the water. Its slow pace, although uneventful, felt really calming, and it’s contrast to the duck made me realize how peaceful it can be when something simply moves at its own pace. (180)

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U is for Underpass

2.21 Blacksburg’s Worst Walk; Photograph and text; Thursday, November 13th

I call this Blacksburg’s Worst Walk. To most, this just seems like a nicely placed underpass  But for me, this ruins my Sunday’s. Every week at 9 a.m., in order to do laundry, I have to cross through here and enter the door on the left. Why is this bad? Well, unfortunately, this underpass acts as a wind tunnel, rudely waking me up with a breeze so strong I have to brace myself each time I pass through. While it is sometimes refreshing, during this season, it annoys me. (90)

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W is for War Memorial Chapel

2.28 War Memorial Chapel; Photograph and text; Thursday, Oct. 23rd

From the outside, the chapel looks strong and sturdy, built with gray Hokie Stone and perfect symmetry. It feels calm and grounded. But inside, the space feels extremely soft. The air is quiet and still, almost telling you to sit down, relax, think, and reflect. Plaques cover the walls, each name carved within, yet the room still feels empty. Nothing about it is loud. Details like the dim lighting, the soft steps from above, and the scent polished wood off gassing make it welcoming, but in a very soft way. (90)

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Across this A to Z collection, a network of recurring motifs emerges: movement, memory, routine, and the quiet relationships we form with the spaces around us. What began as a series of small walks, observations, and objects grows into a broader meditation on how place shapes experience. Many entries turn ordinary moments into points of reflection: the elevator ride that signals the start of a day, the weekly laundry walk marked by familiar sounds, the short trip to the fridge that becomes its own micro-journey. These small rituals reveal how walking is not only a means of getting somewhere, but a rhythm that structures daily life.

Another motif is the tension between familiarity and discovery. Buildings like Cowgill and areas beyond the borders of the hand-drawn campus map remind you that even well-traveled places hold surprises. Similarly, the desire path, the overlooked foil trash, and the confusing sign outside the New Classroom Building reveal how people continuously reshape their environment – sometimes consciously, sometimes without noticing.

Nature appears throughout as a grounding presence. The maple tree, the hiking trail, the nighttime Drillfield, and the open sky serve as moments where the world expands, offering stillness, perspective, or quiet companionship. These spaces contrast with the weathered concrete of Derring or the heavily used shoes, both of which bear the marks of time and movement, a reminder that places and objects age alongside their users.

Ultimately, the project traces a portrait of campus life not through grand landmarks, but through accumulated, ordinary moments. The main takeaway is how attentiveness transforms routine into meaning. Every walk, object, or overlooked corner becomes part of a personal geography: one that reveals who you are by how and where you move through the world.

A is for Alumni Mall

Prompt 2.15 Alumni Mall; Photograph and text; Friday, Nov. 7

Figure 01. A nighttime view beneath an illuminated campus archway, showing the walkway framed by stone architecture and glowing overhead lights. (Original Photograph, Samarth Jain)

Under the arch’s warm glow, Alumni Mall feels like a long deliberate pause between destinations. Its boundaries seem to stretch from the quiet lawns to the steady columns of lights guiding each step, creating a corridor shaped as much by movement as by architecture. It’s called a mall perhaps because it invites strolling. I imagine that alumni return here not just to see a place, but to feel a memory: the echo of late walks, shared conversations, and the gentle pull of a campus that once held their daily lives. (90)

B is for Backpack

Prompt 2.23 The Things You Carry; Photograph and text; Friday, Oct. 31

Figure 02. A neatly arranged display of the contents of my backpack. (Original Photograph, Samarth Jain)

Spread across my desk are the everyday contents of my backpack: my notebook, pencil, pen, laptop, mouse, gum, and water bottle. These items follow me from class to class, shaping the rhythm of each day. My notebook carries quick thoughts and lecture notes. My pencil and pen mark ideas that come and go. My laptop and mouse form the core of my workspace, steady tools of focus. I also have a pack of gum and the water bottle, small comforts that keep me grounded amid the quiet frenzy of learning. (90)

C is for Cowgill

Prompt 2.07 What Even Goes On In There?; Photograph and text; Saturday, Oct. 18

Figure 03. Cowgill Hall at Virginia Tech, showing its distinctive concrete facade and modern architecture under a clear blue sky. (Original Photograph, Samarth Jain)

I have always passed Cowgill Hall on my way from classes to the bus loops, and never stepped inside. I only noticed its concrete facade and activity through the windows. Today, I finally entered. Inside, I was struck by the mix of quiet focus and creative energy. The lobby displayed student artwork, and the hallways echoed with soft footsteps and low conversations. The hum of the printers added texture to the overall atmosphere. For once, I could see the collaboration and design work that give this building its lively energy. (90)

D is for Derring

Prompt 2.18 A Wish for Something to be Different; Photograph and text; Saturday, Oct. 18

Figure 04. Streaked concrete walls of Derring Hall, Virginia Tech, showing dark discoloration and weathering. (Original Photograph, Samarth Jain)

Walking past Derring Hall, my attention is caught by the streaks of black grime staining the concrete walls, showing marks of age, rain, and neglect. The building is dulled by the weathering, turning what could be clean and modern into something weary and forgotten. I wish the walls could be restored – washed free of residue and sealed against future decay. It would take care, funding, patience, and a community effort to beautify this architecture again, so it could reclaim its beauty, architectural strength, and sense of place within campus life. (90)

E is for Elevator

Prompt 2.22 Stairs versus Elevator; Photograph and text; Tuesday, Oct. 21

Figure 05. A stainless steel elevator door set within a cinderblock wall, framed by signage and minimal lighting in my apartment building. (Original Photograph, Samarth Jain)

This elevator sits just outside my apartment, a familiar gateway to the day. Every time I leave the building, I press the button, waiting for the quiet hum and the gentle slide of the doors. I do this often, riding  down to the bus stop and to life beyond the building’s walls. Stairs feel unnecessary here, as convenience and ease win each time. Over time, this elevator has become a part of my daily routine, a small pause between comfort and motion, between home and the busy world around me. (90)

F is for Fridge

Prompt 2.32 Shortest Walk; Video and text; Friday, Oct. 31

Video 01. A video of the indoor walk from my room to the apartment refrigerator. (Original Video, Samarth Jain)

The walk begins as I leave my room. My roommate’s door is nearby, closed. The kitchen island stands still, solid. The apartment door is distant, untouched. The path curves sharply leftward. Light spills across smooth surfaces. I pass the counters on my right. Cabinets line the wall above. The fridge waits just up ahead, humming softly. Finally, I reach my destination and stop the video. The shortest walk exists, and takes only seconds to complete. I heat up my cold food in the microwave and walk back to my room. (90)

G is for Grass

Prompt 2.06 Talking Along the Drillfield; Photograph and text; Friday, Nov. 7

Figure 06. A wide, dimly lit expanse of the Drillfield at night, with scattered lights outlining the field’s perimeter and faint silhouettes in the distance. (Original Photograph, Samarth Jain)

Walking back across the Drillfield with my friends, the night felt wide and open, the grass stretching into darkness broken only by a ring of steady lights. We saw a few scattered figures crossing the field, their silhouettes small against so much space. Nothing seemed unusual, except how quiet everything felt – like the campus had paused. We didn’t choose a route so much as we drifted toward the easiest line across. I always associate the Drillfield with transition, friendship, and the strange comfort of an open clearing holding our conversations. (90)

H is for Hiking

Prompt 2.35 Go For A Hike; Photograph and text; Friday, Sep. 21

Figure 07. A forest scene along the Cascades trail, featuring dense greenery, layered rocks, and flowing water partially hidden beneath foliage. (Original Photograph, Samarth Jain)

I went on a hike to Virginia’s Cascade Falls, and the trail felt like stepping into a quieter world. The trees arched overhead, filtering the light into shifting patches across the rocks. Water moved somewhere just out of sight, its sound guiding me forward. Moss softened the edges of everything, as if time slowed here. I stopped often, not only because I was tired, but because the scene kept asking me to look again. Each turn felt like discovering a new pocket of calm, tucked gently into the giant mountains. (90)

I is for In the Night

Prompt 3.14 Star Gazing; Photograph and text; Monday, Dec. 1

Figure 08. A nighttime photograph showing a completely black sky, capturing the stillness of stargazing conditions. (Original Photograph, Samarth Jain)

Walking at night made everything feel different. I kept looking up at the sky, hoping to see stars, but the darkness was so deep that almost nothing was visible. Because I wasn’t watching the ground as much, I walked more slowly and carefully. I tended to pause in brighter or more open spots where I felt safe. The darkness made familiar places feel unfamiliar, quieter, and more serious. Without daylight, the whole walk became about noticing small sounds, gentle movement, and how much the night changes the world around me. (90)

J is for Journey Through VT

Prompt 2.01 Campus Map of the Imagination; Illustration and text; Saturday, Nov. 29

Figure 09. A hand-drawn map of the VT campus, from my memory. (Original Illustration, Samarth Jain)

My hand-drawn campus map captured only the parts of Virginia Tech I moved through most – on-campus dorms, dining halls, the Drillfield, familiar academic buildings. But when I walked with the map in hand, I reached an area I hadn’t drawn at all: a small pathway tucked between buildings, lined with trees I’d never really noticed. It reminded me how much of campus lives beyond my usual routes. The map showed my habits more than the place itself. What lay beyond its edges was everything I’d overlooked, waiting to be discovered. (90)

K is for Keeping on the Trail

Prompt 3.06 Draw a Map by Hand; Illustration and text; Saturday, Nov. 29

Figure 10. A hand-drawn map of my neighborhood trail that I frequently walk on. (Original Illustration, Samarth Jain)

Mapping my favorite home trail by hand made me notice the life it holds. The path winds through woods and crosses a stream on concrete stepping stones, where I often spot fish darting beneath the water and turtles basking on logs. Snakes slither quietly along the banks, while foxes and deer occasionally appear in the underbrush. I sketched bends, benches, and sunlit clearings, trying to capture both the route and the creatures that share it. Each line and symbol reflects not just the trail’s shape, but the living rhythm of this familiar path. (90)

L is for Laundry

Prompt 2.12 Indoor Walk; Illustration and text; Tuesday, Oct. 21

Figure 11. A hand-drawn floor plan of my apartment showing the path of the indoor walk from my bedroom entrance to the laundry room. (Original Illustration, Samarth Jain)

Every Sunday, I go on an indoor walk from my room to the laundry room – an unnoticed ritual. The path curves gently near the kitchen island, its smooth marble surface reflecting daylight. On my journey, I see the kitchen cabinets and counters, lined with half-forgotten dishes and the faint smell of food. Each step feels familiar, steady, and quietly meditative. Inside the laundry room hums the washing machine and dryer, their rhythm steady and comforting. This short journey, repeated weekly, anchors my routine in the quiet pulse of my apartment. (90)

M is for Maple Tree

Prompt 2.05 A Good Bench; Photograph and text; Saturday, Oct. 11

Figure 12. A large mature maple tree stands in front of the back entrance of Williams Hall at Virginia Tech. Its branches stretch wide across the walkway. The afternoon sunlight filters through the leaves, casting shadows across the path below. (Original Photograph, Samarth Jain)

Dear Maple Tree,
Your sprawling branches and vibrant leaves brighten the path to Williams Hall, creating a canopy that welcomes all who pass beneath. In autumn, your leaves shift from bright green to warm orange and red, reminding me of change and resilience. You stand tall and steady, a quiet guardian on campus, sheltering students and visitors. Among countless trees, you feel special – both strong and graceful. Thank you for your shade, your colors, and your silent companionship through every season’s turn. You make this place feel alive.
Sincerely,
Samarth (90)

N is for New Classroom Building

Prompt 2.14 Signage; Photograph and text; Friday, Oct. 10

Figure 13. The New Classroom Building at Virginia Tech, showing its modern architecture with stone walls and reflective glass windows. This photo captures the numerous seating areas and vegetation at the front of the building. (Original Photograph, Samarth Jain)

On my walk, I noticed that the sign outside New Classroom Building read “Classroom Building.” The mismatch struck me each time I passed it – was the “new” informally tacked on by students who remember when the building was built? The plain white letters on a dark background tried to project clarity, yet the missing “New” made the message seem oddly incomplete. It felt like the sign had not caught up with the building’s identity, or maybe the building itself hadn’t yet earned its “newness,” still waiting to define itself fully. (90)

P is for Passing Clouds

Prompt 2.03 Overhead at Time of Day; Photograph and text; Wednesday, Nov. 26

Figure 14. A clear-sky scene framed by evergreen and leafless trees, with bright clouds drifting across an open expanse of blue. (Original Photograph, Samarth Jain)

I stop on the path and look up, letting the sky fill my view. For thirty seconds, I focus on its wide, bright blue. The sky feels close but also huge, stretching far beyond what I can see. The soft white clouds move slowly, like they are floating on a calm sea. The blue light shifts gently, reminding me that the troposphere is always changing. Just like in language, one shape becomes another. This photograph helps me hold onto the brief moment when the sky seemed both peaceful and alive. (90)

R is for Reflection

Prompt 3.01 Reflective Preparatory Writing; Photograph and text; Saturday, Oct. 11

Figure 15. A balcony view overlooking a busy street, framed by building walls and a bicycle in the foreground. (Original Photograph, Samarth Jain)

I walk because it calms my mind and helps me feel present. Stepping outside feels like opening a window inward, letting in clarity I rarely find indoors. I usually walk through familiar streets like the one below – cars moving steadily, trees shifting color, and people following their own routines. I hope to explore quieter, wider paths someday, places where I can hear my footsteps clearly. My pace shifts with my mood, slow when reflecting and faster when seeking energy. I usually walk alone, guided by steady footsteps through each day. (90)

S is for Shoes

Prompt 2.02 Shoe Portraits, Shoe Memories; Photograph and text; Monday, Oct. 20

Figure 16. A pair of well-worn waterproof hiking shoes, showing creases, dust, and the marks of many miles walked and environments traveled. (Original Photograph, Samarth Jain)

The pictured shoes have carried me through countless days – up steep campus hills, across damp sidewalks after sudden rain, and through deep Alaskan snow that once soaked the laces stiff. The soles are worn thin in familiar places, a quiet record of movement and routine. Each scuff tells a story: early morning walks, late-night excursions, and everything in between. They have traveled more miles than I can count, steady companions molded to my pace, my rhythm, and my daily journey through work, reflection, and the shifting seasons of student life. (90)

T is for Trek to Wellness

Prompt 2.13 Step Counting Metrics; Photograph and text; Tuesday, Nov. 25

Figure 17. A Fitbit step counter displaying time, date, and a total of 2,051 steps. (Original Photograph, Samarth Jain)

For this walk, I used my Fitbit step-tracker and set out for a short, focused route. I watched the numbers climb slowly, each vibration reminding me the device was counting even when I wasn’t consciously thinking about it. I feel neutral toward step-tracking. It can be motivating, but sometimes it feels like pressure. My walk was simple, though the tracker lagged once or twice. I know people who treat their daily step goals like a sport, but I prefer using mine gently, as a loose guide rather than a rule. (90)

U is for Undergraduate Science Laboratory Building

Prompt 2.05 A Good Bench; Photograph and text; Friday, Oct. 10

Figure 18. The Undergraduate Science Laboratory Building at Virginia Tech, showing its modern architecture with stone walls and reflective glass windows. This photo captures the back of this building, revealing an outdoor seating area on a bright sunny day. (Original Photograph, Samarth Jain)

Sitting on the benches outside the Undergraduate Science Laboratory Building invites a brief moment of calm during a busy walk. The smooth metal benches have gentle curves that provide comfortable support but face away from the building and towards the parking lot and the road beyond. This orientation creates a different kind of view – cars, pedestrians, and campus activity – inviting quiet reflection on movement and transition rather than architecture. A good bench balances comfort, accessibility, and connection, even when the surroundings are utilitarian, making rest both practical and thoughtfully refreshing. (90)

V is for Virginia Tech Hoodie

Prompt 2.34 Directions for a First-year Student; Photograph and text; Wednesday, Nov. 26

Figure 19. A maroon Virginia Tech hoodie featuring the university’s name in orange lettering. (Original Photograph, Samarth Jain)

Dear Future Hokie,
Welcome to Blacksburg! One of your first treasures should be a piece of VT merch – like the maroon hoodie every Hokie seems to own. It’s more than clothing; it becomes your armor against windy Drillfield days and your badge of belonging. Start your campus journey there, where every path crosses. Go to Newman Library when you need focus and to Dietrick Hall when you need fuel. And don’t miss a sunset from the pylons. Wrapped in Hokie colors, campus will start to feel like home.
Sincerely,
Samarth (90)

W is for War Memorial Chapel

Prompt 2.28 War Memorial Chapel; Photograph and text; Friday, Nov. 7

Figure 20. The Pylons at Virginia Tech illuminated at night, framed by autumn foliage and campus lights. (Original Photograph, Samarth Jain)

When I was coming back from an event, I approached War Memorial Chapel from the Drillfield. Its lower doors set quietly into the stone as though inviting you to step down. Inside, I’ve wandered only briefly – enough to feel the hush of the space and its intention for reflection, remembrance, and ceremony. The rooftop, crowned by the pylons, feels completely different: open, elevated, a place where values are etched into the wind. Each visit reminds me that the building holds both memory and perspective, grounding and lifting you at once. (90)

Y is for Your Path

Prompt 2.17 Desire Paths; Photograph and text; Monday, Dec. 1

Figure 21. A lightly worn desire path cutting across a grassy area beside a sidewalk, marked by bare gravel where repeated foot traffic has carved an informal route. (Original Photograph, Samarth Jain)

The desire path shown curves off the sidewalk as if impatience itself had etched it into the earth. Students clearly decided the official route wasn’t the most efficient – maybe they were rushing back to their apartments and didn’t want to take the elevator, avoiding crowds, or simply choosing the shortest line between two points. Over time, their choices merged into this shared trail, a quiet record of collective preference. It reveals something simple but true. People will always shape their environment to fit their movement, not the other way around. (90)

Z is for Zero Excuse

Prompt 2.24 A Meditation on Garbage; Photograph and text; Monday, Dec. 1

Figure 22. A small piece of crumpled foil lying beside a metal post and drainage grate, partially surrounded by fallen autumn leaves on a concrete walkway. (Original Photograph, Samarth Jain)

The small piece of foil tucked against the metal post seemed almost swallowed by the pile of autumn leaves around it. It likely drifted there – carried by wind, rain, or hurried footsteps – rather than being intentionally discarded. Its presence made me reflect on how Virginia Tech generally maintains clean, orderly outdoor spaces, yet small bits of trash still gather in overlooked corners. Most Hokies appear mindful of keeping campus tidy, but moments like this remind me that environmental stewardship depends on constant, shared attention, even in the smallest, low-stakes places. (90)

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I’ve always lived in the same place: the same house, the same district, and the same people. When I came to Virginia Tech, it was like a whole new world had opened up. Since coming to Blacksburg and Virginia Tech, I have never felt the need to venture past what was known to me. Once I set a path to go to a class, I would not stray from it, even if the other path was shorter.  Even when I went for a nightly stroll to get some fresh air, I took the same paths because they were familiar. 

Before this semester, I was truly missing out on a myriad of places to see in Blacksburg, whether it be something small like the Blacksburg Library, or something rooted in school spirit like a football game.  With this class, I was able to look at Blacksburg in a new light. Rather than it being a place where I focused solely on my academics, it is a place to talk to new people and explore what I can relish in not just now, but also later in life. 

This semester, I took a step toward exploration. I prided myself on going through and trying to find new places in Blacksburg and connecting them to back home, a place where I’ve always felt the most comfortable. I used this to stray away from something I’ve always held dear to me, familiarity. I explored places that I would have never thought I would have enjoyed, for example, Huckleberry Trail,  and encountered places I’ve grown to love and have now frequented multiple times. Although all the things I have done weren’t as enjoyable as others, I have found places that I will continue to visit after this class comes to an end. 

Figure 05. My hair was blowing across the streets of Chinatown in DC, a bow clipped into my hair to match the hundreds of others in the line, waiting to see Laufey for her ‘A Matter of Time’ concert. (Original Photo, Gunjan Rekhi)

The weather was extremely frigid outside. My glasses were no longer protecting me from the winds, as I wore contact lenses. The girl behind me was whispering to her boyfriend, her distress hitting my ears. The fear of not being able to enter the venue in time discouraged me from getting the artist’s merch. The girls I had found while walking over from the parking garage talked to me about how everyone was dressed impeccably. Their outfits covered the streets of D.C in a sea of blue and white. (90)

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B is for Beaver 

3.16 Non-Commercial Walk, Photo and text, Thursday, Oct. 23rd

Figure 06. As I entered the giant gas station, the commemorative beaver was perched outside the store. Before I took my own photo of it, I aided two different elderly women in figuring out how to use their phones and take pictures next to it. (Original Photo, Gunjan Rekhi)

As I was on my drive to DC, the boredom of driving had finally gotten to me. Whilst I was driving, I came across a Buc-ee’s, the first ever in Virginia. I felt compelled to visit, taking in the large establishment. I walked through every aisle, taking in their assortment of products from freshly made burritos to dog toys. As I walked, the urge to purchase an item never crossed my mind. Although each item had the commemorative beaver on everything in the store, I was content with just looking. (90)

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C is for Carter’s Mountain 

3.12 Five Senses, Video and text, Friday, Oct. 29th

Video 02. A video of the Fuji apple trees, each one higher than the last. According to the people working, they were the perfect amount of sweet and tart. (Original Video, Gunjan Rekhi)

As I walked across the rocky pathway, trees covering my eyeline, I could hear families laughing across the orchard. My arms began to hurt as I carried the bushel of apples back up the hill, the bag ripping under the weight of them. The smell of apple cider wafted through the air, salivating my mouth. As I stood in line, the smell of donuts getting stronger, my patience began to wear off, but when the sweet taste of them hit my tongue, it was all I could ever dream of. (90)

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D is for Dying My Hair

2.32 Shortest Walk, Photo and text, Wednesday, Nov. 19th

Figure 09. A picture of my hair after I dyed it pink in my apartment bathroom. (Original Photograph, Gunjan Rekhi)

Change is temporary. Hair can be long. Hair can be short. It’s subject to change. The developer is strong. The bleach is stronger. Mix them and apply. Wait for a while. Watch the color lift. The color turns orange. My hair is brittle. I wash it out. Time to dry. I apply the color. Color mixed with conditioner. I apply and wait. Pink stains my shirt. I clean my sink. Praying pink doesn’t stain. I rewash my hair. The tub turns pink. I redry my hair. Looks a little different. (90)

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E is for Eavesdropping 

2.04 Overheard, Less Context, Audio Recording, Friday, Nov. 28th

Audio track 01. A 13 second audio of my friend listening to a little boy getting yelled at by his mom and she found my hair in her clothes. (Original recording, Gunjan Rekhi)

I was walking around an outdoor plaza with my friend when we came across a boba shop. The inside, frequently bustling with people, was filled with people talking. Some are discussing work, others are listening to their screaming kids as they jump across the store. I pull out my phone to listen to this mother ever so slightly scold her kid. His face shifts from one of glee to a pout. I began to reminisce about my own mom and how she would do the same when I was younger. (90)

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F is for Flickering Stars

Prompt 3.14 Star Gazing, Photograph and text, Thursday, Oct. 9

Figure 03. The Big Dipper, taken in the night sky of suburban Virginia, shines brighter than ever. (Original Photograph, Gunjan Rekhi)

The song “In a Sentimental Mood” by Ella Fitzgerald played through my wired headphones as I watched the stars flicker above me. The Big Dipper was prominent in my eyeline as I almost tripped over the root of a tree at my feet. I watched as the stars I once wished upon as a kid waltzed across the night. The sight of my childhood park brought me back to a place of serenity, unlike the bustling nightlife of Blacksburg, where you could hear students no matter the time of day. (90)

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G is for Gazebo

Prompt 2.19 Duck Pond, Photograph and text, Thursday, Oct. 2

Figure 01. My friend and I are taking in the view of the duck pond from the gazebo, trying to decipher how long it has been since it was a part of the pond that has become ever so popular in the grounds. (Original Photograph, Gunjan Rekhi)

As my friend and I walked towards the gazebo, I began to recognize my surroundings. It had been months since I had visited the familiar area. The evening air was crisp, the scent of fall wafting through my nose as I began smelling the leaves churning. Around Duck Pond, most creatures had gone still, yet the noises of the ducks quacking lingered across the water’s surface. The fresh air was a tender blanket that covered me after being confined to my room for days on end, after fighting an illness. (90)

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H is for Heckler  

3.08 Bird Watching Walk, Saturday, Oct. 18th.

Figure 08. I came across a duck on a nightly stroll across the duck pond. While the other ducks were in the lake, he was sitting far away, watching everything unfold. (Original Photo, Gunjan Rekhi)

Walking across Duck Pond so late at night was a slightly terrifying feat. Although most birds had begun to migrate south, there were still a few chirping around. The first being a crow, sitting perched on the tree, his cawing being heard for miles on end. The second being a Greater Scaup; his quacking sounded almost like a heckle, ricocheting off the trees and across the pond. The last bird that was spotted was on the way back, a Hermit Thrush, its small body barely noticeable in the night sky. (90)

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I is for In Need Of A Meal 

2.12 Indoor Walk, Illustrations, Sunday, November 9th

Illustration 03. A drawing of the path I take from my room every time I feel hungry, thirsty, or am just plain bored. (Original Illustration, Gunjan Rekhi)

I began my venture from my room to my kitchen, and I could overhear my roommate’s laugh. Her giggles pierce through my headphones. I ventured into our kitchen in hopes of getting something to eat, and I stepped on a melted piece of ice. Annoyance was radiating off of me. I felt as if I would never eat again after these circumstances, but I persisted. I rummaged around the fridge, trying to find something that appealed to me. After careful consideration, I decided to heat the leftover food I had. (90)

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J is for Juna

2.16 Waiting in Line, Photo and text, Friday, Nov. 28th

Figure 10. Me waiting in the carpeted electronics section of Target with my headphones blaring so loud I can barely hear my own thoughts. (Original Photograph, Gunjan Rekhi)

In hopes of beating the Black Friday lines, I went to the electronics section. Alas, my attempt was proven futile. As I waited in line, I was so thankful that I had brought my AirPods. I played the song ‘Juna’ by Clairo, praying that the line would move faster.  I began to feel more and more impatient as someone cut me in line. Since I was too afraid to say anything, my frustration was not evident on my face, but in the way I tapped my foot on the carpet. (90)

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Kindred Spirits 

2.25 Micro-Interview with a Being at Windows, Audio Recording, Thursday, Nov. 13th

Audio 02. A voice memo of me awkwardly walking up to a girl in the park and asking her what she uses her phone for. (Original Audio, Gunjan Rekhi)

Seeing as the weather wasn’t too windy or chilly, I decided to walk around the park near my apartment complex. After a while, I decided to sit on the grass and listen to music and just watch the people around me. One person was playing with their dog, while another group was just talking on the grass. It wasn’t until I saw someone just walking scrolling through their phone that I got up. I went up to them and asked what they were using their phone for while walking outside. (90)

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L is for Leaves

Prompt 2.18 A Wish for Something to be Different, Photograph and text, Tuesday, Oct. 7

Figure 02. The tree resting right outside my apartment window, which whistles through the air at night, has finally begun to shed its leaves, signifying that autumn has finally begun.  (Original Photograph, Gunjan Rekhi)

The day itself felt like a juxtaposition pulled straight from a novel. While walking back to my apartment from the bus stop, I thought the air would be slightly frigid as the seasons had begun to change, wishing to feel the crisp air against my face, causing my nose to run ever so slightly. Alas, the weather was still warm, the humid air causing my hair to frizz up as I walked along the street. What struck me was that the leaves were still changing, giving the illusion of autumn. (90)

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M is My Daily Path 

2.01 Campus Map of the Imagination, Illustrations, Wednesday, November 12th

Illustration 01. My usual daily path that I take to go to my classes on Monday and Wednesday. (Original Illustration, Gunjan Rekhi)

On my usual path to classes, I keep my headphones on and my head down. I don’t take in the infrastructure around me; I just stare at the ground and pray I don’t accidentally run into anyone. On my walk, I decided to look up and take in the scenery, so I left for class earlier than I usually would. Without my headphones, I could hear how many people were talking with their friends, birds chirping above me, and even ran into one of my friends while going to class. (90)

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N is for New World

2.07 What Even Goes On In There?, Photo and Text, Friday, Nov. 7th

Figure 11. A screenshot of me texting my friend on how I thought that the DDS building is very nice and somewhere I would study often. (Original Photo, Gunjan Rekhi)

Things in my room distracted me from the task at hand, and as the night passed, my urge to study waned. My roommate, noticing my struggle as she heard me let out a heavy sigh, suggested a change of scenery. We ventured on campus and went to DDS, as she suggested. It was my first time walking into the building. Since it was 11 at night, only a few people were roaming the halls. I took in the building in awe; the bathrooms were sparkling clean, and there were study rooms galore. Each one was filled with TVs and whiteboards. I decided to venture out without her, set up my stuff in the study room, and explore. The ceilings were ever so high, and everything in the building looked brand new. I was so fascinated that I started texting my friends about how nice the building was. I would have never suspected that the building was so modern and sleek. A giant screen covered one of the walls on the second floor, showing multiple different languages and colors played ahead. (180)

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O is for Out of It 

2.22 Stairs versus Elevator, Audio Recording, Tuesday, Nov. 3rd

Audio 03. The sound of the elevator taking me up to the third floor of the building for my 9:30 class. (Original Audio, Gunjan Rekhi)

Every Tuesday and Thursday, I had to choose between walking up three flights of stairs at 9:12 in the morning or taking the elevator. At the beginning of the semester, I would walk up a hill to my class in the ‘Corps Leadership and Military Science Building.’ At first, I would take the stairs, but as time went on, I gave up. There was no point in walking up all those stairs when an elevator, filled with people from class, was right there, conveniently placed next to the entrance. (90)

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P is for Pecking

2.11 Huckleberry Trail, Photograph and text, Wednesday, October 8th

Figure 04. A rooster pecking across the grounds of the Huckleberry Trail in attempts to find its morning meal. I guess he did not wake up early enough to get the worm. (Original Photograph, Gunjan Rekhi)

I continued along the trail; the smell of manure filled my senses, my nose twitching. I took a sip of my water, trying to distract myself from the scent as I came across a stream hidden on the outskirts of the trail. The water covered the rocks with a brown hue due to the mud surrounding them. It wasn’t until I heard a slight crowing that I noticed a rooster pecking into the ground behind me. I jumped back slightly and watched as his black eyes looked directly into mine. (90)

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Q is for Quiet at Last 

2.29 Public Library, Photo and Text, Saturday, Nov. 1st

Figure 12. A picture that I took of me reading a book in the library. I brought my own book seeing as I had just started reading “A Three-Body Problem” and wanted to continue it somewhere peaceful (Original Photo, Gunjan Rekhi)

I have grown up around libraries, the closest one to me being Twin Hickory Library. Whenever I was bored as a kid, my mom would take me and read a myriad of books. It was to the point where we would max out the number of checkouts on both of our cards. Libraries have always been a solace to me, helping me not only expand my vocabulary but also offering an escape. It was the place I would go with my friends after high school to talk and study. (90)

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R is for Running 

Prompt 2.04 Overheard, Less Context; Video and text; Friday, Oct. 10

Video 1. A slightly chunky Bichon Frise, Buddy, begins to run across the Glen Allen lake, taking a slight break to take in the grass being mowed around him. (Original Video, Gunjan Rekhi)

What seemed to be a normal walk to get my 7-year-old dog’s daily exercise turned into a wild goose chase. Buddy has never been one to chase after different sounds, only reacting when someone says “ice cream”, his ears perking up at the thought. As we ventured on our walk, my heels digging in to try and get him to turn back, the sound of an industrial lawn mower interested him. He ran towards and sniffed around for a few seconds until he began rolling into the bladed strands, causing his freshly groomed fur to get dirty, with green hues covering him slightly. Bringing him home was nothing short of a hassle, as I once dug my heels into the ground, so did he, his body tired after our mile-long walk. He looked at me with distaste, his whine echoing throughout the lake, begging me to pick him up and carry him home. How could I reject such a plea? The sounds of him panting echoed through my ears, and my body felt fatigued carrying him back to my car. (180)

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S is for Sweet Treat 

2.32 Shortest Walk, Photo and text, Tuesday, Oct. 14th

Figure 07. I made an apple crumble for my roommates, and as the weather began to turn, I felt the need to make something using cinnamon. But apple crumble is never complete without ice cream, so I ventured to my freezer to get some. (Original Photo, Gunjan Rekhi)  

Sweets are essential. They bring me joy. A warm, crisp apple. Covered in cinnamon. The crumble coating it. Fresh out the oven. It still needs more. The freezer steps ahead. Retrieving the cold sweet. The bucket thuds. The tabletop colder. The bowl still warm. The apple crumble waiting. A la mode. The only acceptable way. Two steps more. I grab a spoon. I scoop it in. The dessert is perfection. The ice cream cold. The crumble hot. They mix perfectly together. A symphony. My mouth was overjoyed. A perfect treat. (90)

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T is for Tattered 

2.02 Shoe Portraits, Shoe Memories, Photo and Text, Tuesday, Oct. 21st

Figure 13. A picture I took of my shoe, that even though I’ve worn it everywhere, it’s still in good condition because I cherish my shoes. (Original Photo, Gunjan Rekhi)

Since I was a kid, I’ve hated getting new shoes. I didn’t understand the appeal; it wasn’t until my shoes were quite literally tearing at the seams that I felt the urge to get new ones. As I started my freshman year of high school, my dad decided to buy me a new pair, something I could use to mark a fresh start. Since then, I’ve worn these shoes daily. Whether it be a quick walk to the grocery store or walking almost 5 miles in Chicago on a whim. (90)

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U is for Unbelievably short 

2.12 Indoor Walk, Illustrations, Sunday, November 9th

Illustration 02. A drawing of my room going to my bathroom, it’s an extremely short drawing, seeing as my bathroom is directly in front of my room. (Original Illustration, Gunjan Rekhi)

Every morning, the first thing I have to do, no matter what, is brush my teeth and floss. It is something I must do before I even make my bed. Because the sun starts shining in my room around 7:30 in the morning, that’s usually when I get up to brush my teeth. The walk from my room to my bathroom can’t even be more than three feet, but it’s become a part of my daily routine. One that I cherish as I turn on my early morning playlist. (90)

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W is for White Out 

2.08 Sporting Event, Photo and Text, Saturday, Sept. 20th

Figure 14. The Hokie bird dancing on the field next to all the cheerleaders, showing his hokie pride! (Original Photograph, Gunjan Rekhi)

My first-ever football game was an experience. Due to the heat, the walk from the Maroon bus loop to the stadium was one full of sweat. You could hear people yelling across the drill field, their voices carrying even as my friends and I ventured past. As we got to our seats, you could hear the roaring from students and guests as ‘Enter Sandman’ by Metallica played. Throughout the game, you could hear people’s keys jangling as they shook them, or the smell of the concessions coming to the bleachers. (90)

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Y is for Youthful
2.23 The Things You Carry, Video and Text, Monday, December 1st

Video 03. A video of me showing off all the contents that reside in my to go bag. It’s things that I find essential to whenever I go for a walk. (Original Video, Gunjan Rekhi)

Usually, before I go on longer walks, I love taking a Miffy themed tote bag of things with me. It makes me feel at peace knowing I have things that are non-essential as well as essential in case of any emergencies. In my bag, I have a portable charger and my Kindle, in case I get bored or my phone dies. I also keep a pair of wired headphones at all times if my wireless headphones die on my walk. For emergencies, I have a plastic water bottle and Band-Aids. (90)

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Z is for Zapped out of Reality

2.18 A Wish for Something to be Different, Photo and Text, Monday, Nov. 10th

Figure 15. The trash can outside of West End filled to the brim and expelling with trash. (Original Photograph, Gunjan Rekhi)

I was walking back from West End at night, when I turned to my left and saw that the trash can outside the dining hall was filled to the brim. It didn’t stop people from coming over and piling more and more trash on top of the trash can and even around it. Another trash can was only a few steps away, but people didn’t want to take the extra ten steps, which really frustrated me because they kept littering and making custodial staff’s lives harder through their own laziness. (90)

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