As I concluded my summer housekeeping duties at the charming Sun Valley Inn in Franklin, Vermont, I couldn't help but revel in the early onset of autumn. Unlike the urban landscape of my hometown, Hoboken, New Jersey, the vibrant hues of the changing foliage in Vermont painted a captivating and picturesque panorama.

Exiting room 19, the final stop on my evening rounds at the quaint yellow motel nestled just off the highway, I maneuvered the laundry cart out the door and absently wiped my forehead with the sleeve of my cardigan, the evening chill nipping at my skin. Pausing for a moment to savor the breathtaking sunset and inhale the crisp air, I made my way to the laundry room situated near the pool area. It dawned on me that the pool would soon be drained, a task that I dreaded.

With the impending start of my first semester at the esteemed Franklin School of Veterinary Sciences just around the corner, my determination to maximize my earnings from tips and bi-weekly paychecks heightened. The prospect of moving into the school's dormitory building ahead of the new academic year filled me with eager anticipation, as leaving behind the Sun Valley Inn and its outskirts was a long-awaited aspiration.