Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter 🍂❄️

A friend said Pittsburgh's autumn passes in the blink of an eye—and now I truly feel it. Winter announces itself not by the calendar, but by the radiators humming to life 🎵, the biting wind on those early treks to class 🥶, the shrinking daylight, and the endless deadlines piling up ⏳. Just the other day, catching up with a close friend, it hit me—a full year has flown by since they took their grad school entrance exams. And it's already been a year since I applied to CMU. Time slips away so quietly when you're living it 🕰️. They say the happiest moments are the briefest—and I get it now. Sometimes I look back on my senior year with regret: Why didn’t I chase more internships? Why didn’t I learn something solid instead of what felt like a total "gap year"? 🎢 But deep down, I know—even if I could rewind time, I’d probably still choose that slow, intentional pause 🌿. A year to breathe, to reconnect with what I’d missed, to simply… be. Maybe that’s part of how I’ve grown—from an INFP to an ENFP—a little braver, a little more present 💫. Must-Visit Winter Spots in Pittsburgh 🏙️✨ Even as the seasons change, Pittsburgh’s charm only deepens. Here are some perfect places to embrace the coming winter: Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens 🌸❄️ A tropical escape amid the cold! Their Winter Flower Show transforms the glasshouse into a magical wonderland 🎄. Warm, lush, and totally Instagrammable 📸. Schenley Park Skating Rink ⛸️ Glide under the open sky with the city skyline as your backdrop 🌆. Perfect for a cozy date or a fun friends’ outing ❤️. Mount Washington & The Incline 🚠 Ride the Duquesne Incline up for a breathtaking winter sunset view over the Monongahela River 🌅. The city dusted in snow? Pure magic ✨. Cathedral of Learning + Holiday Market 🏛️🎁 Explore the Nationality Rooms dressed in winter decor 🕯️. Don’t miss the Market Square Holiday Market for hot chocolate, gifts, and festive vibes 🎄☕. North Park Winter Trails 🥾🌲 Ideal for a quiet winter hike or early snowshoeing when the flakes start falling ❄️. Serene, peaceful, and beautifully stark. Whether you're wrapping up the semester or wrapping yourself in a scarf, Pittsburgh’s winter has its own kind of magic 🧣💙. Embrace the cold—there’s warmth in these moments too. #StudyInTheUS #CMU #Pittsburgh #InternationalStudent #CampusLife #FarewellToFall #WinterIsHere #PittsburghWinter #PhippsInWinter #InclineViews