After weeks of colder temperatures, warm weather has returned to Milledgeville, bringing students back outside and boosting energy and motivation across GCSU’s campus.
Life is returning to campus as students head outdoors to study, relax and spend time with friends in the sun. The front lawn has filled with people lying out on blankets, working on assignments and talking with friends, while winter layers have been replaced with shorts and T-shirts.
Many students said the warmer temperatures have had a noticeable impact on their mood and daily routines. Lily Kenyon, a junior marketing major, said the sunshine makes a difference in how she starts her day.
“I’m always happy when the weather heats back up,” Kenyon said. “It’s a big contributor in helping me get out of bed in the mornings.”
Outdoor spaces across campus have quickly filled up, with students choosing to study, talk with friends and unwind in the warmer air.
“My favorite spot on campus when it’s sunny is in one of the rocking chairs outside of Atkinson, which can double as one of my favorite places to get in some studying,” Kenyon said.
BriAnna King, a freshman marketing major, said the warmer weather has changed the way she approaches her day, affecting both her mood and her motivation.
“The warm weather has definitely positively affected my mood, and I feel overall happier,” King said.
The change in temperature has also shaped how some students move through their day, making it easier to stay active and productive between classes and other responsibilities.
“I definitely feel more motivated,” King said. “I think the sun energizes me and gets me outside. Getting outside always makes me get more things done throughout the day because my body is warm and moving.”
With clearer skies and comfortable temperatures, students are finding small but meaningful ways to enjoy time outside between classes. Whether it’s choosing to walk instead of drive or bringing homework outdoors, the warmer weather has shifted how many students are spending their free time.
“I have gone on so many walks around West Campus, car rides with the windows down and blaring music and sitting for hours doing homework on Front Campus,” King said.
As the temperature rises, many students across campus seem to experience a boost in energy. The warmer afternoons lead to more movement and more time outside, leading to a noticeable shift in how students approach their day.
“My energy during summer is always significantly higher than that of the colder months,” King said. “So the sun coming out recently has positively affected my energy and, in return, my work ethic at school, home and my job.”
Olivia Icaza, a freshman pre-nursing major, said she has also noticed a shift in campus energy.
“The warm weather has made me want to be outside more, and it makes me feel more motivated to sit in the sun on Front Campus and study, which is what I’ve been doing a bit more,” Icaza said.
The difference in campus life is noticeable not just in how students feel, but in how they are using campus spaces. Areas that were once quiet during colder days are now active throughout the afternoon, with students spreading out across Front Campus to study, talk and take breaks between classes.
“I noticed there were a lot more people also enjoying the sun, and the energy on campus has definitely increased with most other people either playing or studying outside,” Icaza said.
For many students, the return of warm weather feels like a reset after the slower pace and heavier feeling of the winter months. Outdoor spaces that may have been quiet during colder days are once again filled with conversation, music and study sessions.
As the semester continues, students are embracing the sunshine as both a break from routine and a boost in motivation. Whether it’s studying in a rocking chair, walking around West Campus or lying out on Front Campus with friends, the warmer weather is helping bring renewed energy to campus, just in time for the busy weeks ahead.