Teachers are always questioning how and why we refuse to take off our sweatshirts even in the recent 100 degree California weather. Well, maybe it’s because students expect September to bring crisp air, knit sweaters, pumpkin vanilla candles from Trader Joe’s, and hot coffee instead of hot winds, tank tops, and broken air conditioning.

I, as well as other Royals, only find the return to school bearable because it indicates that pumpkin spice and pumpkin patches are right around the corner. All I want is to romanticize my school work, scroll for hours on Pinterest looking for outfit inspiration, and carve pumpkins with my friends, but the heat wave is managing to put all my fall expectations and hopes on hold—I’ve never felt more devastated.

I should see multicolored leaves gracefully falling from the Autumn trees when I walk outside, but instead, I feel the disappointing hot, dry wind as I leave my house at seven in the morning to head to school. A nice fall breeze would make my day that much better and might even manage to put a smile on my face, but California weather has other plans, and I’m not okay with it.

I am not the only Royal anticipating a shift in weather. Morgan Brkich ’23 also anxiously waits for the fall season and all it entails: “Personally, I believe and live by sweater weather. My favorite holiday is Halloween, and my spooky plans for the holiday season are put on pause, and I’m not here for it”.

My anticipation for the end of the heat wave is the same way I felt when I was younger and anticipated Santa’s arrival. Kids anticipate presents, while I anticipate it to be at least under 80 degrees. Is that too much to ask for?