It’s 6:52 a.m. Not a minute later, and definitely not a minute earlier.

Some unknown power from within is able to persuade me into leaving my succulent, warm bed to toss on a sports bra, deodorant and finally my running shoes, still moist from the day before.

I’m still not quite convinced it’s worth getting only six hours of sleep for the chance to run the already bustling streets of Evanston, but soon enough I find myself dragging my tired body through the vacant hallway of the first floor, iPod in check.

I open the door leading to the outside world, and squint from the glare of the bright sun creeping over the trees. I know if I don’t start now, I never will. I force myself to ignore all of the negative thoughts taking over my brain. Indulging in one final deep breath, I blast the volume to a dangerously loud level, and take off toward the lakefront.

Throughout cherubs, it was hard to find any time at all to exercise with the busy schedule we had. Staying active in any shape or form has always been a way of life for me.

Growing up in Colorado, a hike, bike trail or running path has never been hard to come by. What’s so great about running is that it’s more of a lifestyle than a sport, in the way that it’s never hard to find another runner nearby. Take my roommate for instance.

Not only did my roommate, Emily Hatton, and I get along right from the start, but we soon learned that instead of dresses and skirts, we both packed half of our suitcases with T-shirts, athletic shorts and running shoes. Trying to hold a conversation while running, sweating and panting only brought the two of us closer.

For five weeks, our sanity, intelligence, time management and of course writing skills were put to the test. The few free hours we had in the day, gave me the chance to indulge in not only the scrumptious cookies from the Hinman dining hall, but also a daily run.

No matter what we were working on or how far behind I was on the current assignment, a run always seemed to take priority over sleep and anything else I probably should have been doing. If I started off the day with a run or even ran over lunch, I honestly felt like I could take on the world and of course eat whatever I please, which is always a plus.

Running always seems to clear my mind of all the stresses of being a teenager. At cherubs, it was no different. It helps me forget about everything, even if the vivacity I start off with becomes unbearable pain. They say running gives some sort of “running high” which must be true. The adrenaline rush you get the last 100 yards is indescribable.

The thing about running is that you don’t need much to help you clear your mind and escape from reality. Really, all you need is a pair of shoes, a little bit of motivation and probably an empty stomach.

The five weeks here at the cherubs program were filled with thousands of good memories, an education more fulfilling than anything I could have learned in school, and an experience I know none of us will forget. It’s one of those life experiences you can’t totally comprehend unless you’ve gone through it yourself. I’ve never felt so challenged, mentally and physically-and I probably would not have survived it without running-the one constant I know will always be in my life no matter what kind of crazy path I choose to take.