Most people do not think of snow when they think of spring. They associate snow with winter and Christmas, rather than the warm season. When they think of spring, they think of warmer weather and blooming flowers. I, too, think of pleasant temperatures and new life, rather than snow, when I think of spring. In addition to these things, other topics also come to mind when I think of the warmer time of year, however.

One thing I think of is graduation. I had three spring graduations. The first one was in May 1993, when I graduated from Pearl River High School. The other two were when I graduated from college. At each ceremony, I experienced the excitement, happiness, and relief that comes with completing a degree. Along with graduation, spring also reminds me of other things, as well.

Another thing that spring reminds me of is insects. Insects come out when the weather warms up. They are fine as long as they stay outside. When they come in my house, however, they get on my nerves. I would not want to come out to my kitchen in the morning to find a cockroach scurrying across my kitchen floor or lurking in my bathroom. A sight like that would tend to freak me out and would definitely get my day off to a bad start. Therefore, in order to avoid a situation like this, I clean regularly. By keeping the house clean, I can keep the pests at bay. Spring also reminds me of something else associated with nature: longer days.

As a young woman who is dreaming of a professional life, daytime is important to me. I strive to make every minute count and to make good use of my time. The longer days of springtime give me more daylight, during which I can do more work and publish more articles. Then, when the day has ended and it is dark, I can put my work away and settle in for the night. I can enjoy a good run, have dinner, and then spend the evening with my husband. There is one other thing that comes to mind when I think of spring: charity walks.

In the spring, groups get together to walk for causes, such as the March of Dimes. They get together on a Saturday morning in April, walk, and get a great workout. Several years ago, I was a regular participant in March of Dimes WalkAmerica. I would love to resume walking for this cause, but I have not yet found a walk in my area. Perhaps one day I will find a walk, and then my husband and I can join this group to walk for healthy babies.

What about you? What do you think of when you think of spring?