Aurora Daniel ’23

Walking has always been a source of solace. Growing up in the Wilamette Valley in Oregon I took the winding paths along the rivers that cut through my hometown nearly everyday to clear my head and get some space from a tumultuous homelife. Then, during my service in the U.S. Army, I looked forward to ruck marches that demanded complete mindfulness—the easiest way to get through them was to keep breathing and take the next step. My time at Wellesley was no different. In the midst of a bustling schedule I returned to long, slow walks around campus. One of my favorite places to visit was Woodland Garden, a sculptural installation along Lake Waban, that evokes remnants of buildings and mills found across New England forests. It made me wonder how my presence may be felt long after I had moved on.