This past Sunday, I went on a hike of Fall Creek Gorge guided by Todd Bittner. The hike served as a nice break from doing homework and studying. During the hike, I learned about the geological formation of the gorges as well as the history of the trails and Ezra’s Tunnel which I found very fascinating. In tandem with the geology and history I learned and experienced last week at the Botanic Gardens, I am becoming increasingly grateful to be surrounded by a beautiful area with such a rich past. I learned from these past two excursions that if I need a break from my academics, I can easily explore and immerse myself in nature. As Todd Bittner stated, a few minutes outdoors is scientifically proven to relieve stress and positively impact mood. He also talked about a website, ithacatrails.org, that was recently created to condense information about trails in Ithaca for public use. With Fall Creek Gorge as close as five minutes away from West Campus and an excellent resource available to find even more nearby trails, I really do not have an excuse to stay cooped up inside all day, especially if I need a break. This hike as well as other Rose Scholars events have allowed me to value the natural beauty around me at Cornell and have made me realize that I should take advantage of it while I am here.