A Sunrise at the Lakefront Trail
A Senior Sunrise
The weekend before the first week of school, a friend and I committed to a sunrise at the lake. Despite my immediate desire to go back to bed the moment my alarm woke me up at 5:10 am, the determination to be able to say that I have at least watched one sunset at the lake during my time at college pushed me out the door. Soon enough, the sky was still warming up when my friend and I sat ourselves down at the water’s edge.
It didn’t hit me, until I saw the sun peeking out of the water, that the last time I had intentionally made the effort to get myself out of bed at such an early hour to see the sunrise was 5 years ago. The lakefront is a community space where the people of Chicago come together to have picnics, sunbathe in the summer, complete their daily walks or runs, spend time with loved ones, jump in the lake, or simply relish in the views of Lake Michigan. But at that moment, it was a space for my friend and I to reflect on the past few years of college and the things we hoped to accomplish during our last year at DePaul in the company of the rising sun.
The Lakefront As A Comfort Spot
Although the lakefront is a public space, it being located on the outskirts of the city, lining the lake’s shore, makes for a place that feels incredibly intimate and personal. Even though I know many individuals before me have probably sat in the same spots I have, each time I venture there, I get this feeling that I’m going somewhere that’s always been my little place to hide away in the city. Even outside of the timeframe of 6am-7am, this spot has served as my longtime area of comfort and escapism. I’ve been to the lakefront to celebrate birthdays, meet up with friends, get lost in deep conversations, and more. But my favorite moments have been the times in which I have trekked there by myself with either a journal or earbuds in my possession.
Being at DePaul and in Chicago has never not been exciting. Compared to the college experience I would’ve had at, maybe, a university back home, DePaul has undoubtedly introduced me to a flourishing city filled with people and experiences that have greatly shaped the person I am today. Navigating young adulthood and moving away from home comes with a whole new set of challenges though, but I’ve always found that a moment to myself at the lake has been the best remedy to growing pains. It only takes one glance at the city’s skyline in the distance for me to realize that I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else and how much of a privilege it is for me to say that I’m spending such a pivotal part of my life in a city as vibrant as Chicago.
So although I highly recommend experiencing a lakeshore sunrise at least once, even if you can’t muster up the energy to wake up before the sun does, this special place in the city will always be there to serve you when in need of comfort, relaxation, and reflection any day and at any time.
