We owe thanks to the walk around Mirror Lake: those 3 miles that have given us the walks and talks of a lifetime, fostering relationships never to be forgotten. Northwood students and faculty have used Mirror Lake as kindling to warm and fulfill all relationships. Many students at Northwood use Mirror Lake as a reason to spend more time with the people they care about, preserving what time we have left with one another. For the seniors, we use it to make the most of the months we have left in beautiful upstate New York. This time spent walking around the lake is never regretted; rain or snow, cold or warm, most would argue that the time spent was well worth it.
Taking the time to appreciate what this walk has done for us is something I believe we would all benefit from. For those who are unaware of the experience, here is what you need to know. Mirror Lake is a small lake bordered by the town of North Elba and Northwood School. It is a sister lake to Lake Placid. In the summer, the trees are green, and the water is warm; fall colors illuminate the foliage as the season shifts and the wind grows colder. Soon, the falling leaves turn to falling snow, and our hallmark-looking town is lit up with Christmas lights. The snow disappears too soon, and the flowers reappear; the cold recedes into the ground as green grass appears. For Northwood students, the long seasons of their beloved sports are wrapping up, and Spike Ball nets are back on the fields. As the grass gets greener and the air gets warmer, the music turns back on, and spring is here. For seniors, though, spring means the end is near. The games outside make laughs more meaningful and time more precious. The walks around the lake are limited and all that much more impactful; the memories of years in the past or earlier that fall flood back in, and the wishes of going back arise. Wanting to do it all over again, make those friends again, laugh like you did when you first met, and never let the feeling of love for this place and the people go. And although you never will, soon, these experiences will exist only in good memories.
So, enjoy the walks and the talks, enjoy the laughs and the smiles. Let yourself have all the fun in the world and experience the beauty of not only the land but of the relationships being fostered. Appreciate the people you are with, because just as Mirror Lake will not be in your backyard forever, these people will not be within a handholding reach for much longer. So, hold on tight while you still can.