Guest blog by Patricio Ramos Berho

Before coming to Booth, I had never really experienced the four seasons. I’m from Mexico, where the weather is mostly consistent year-round, sunny with slight changes, but nothing that truly shifts your daily life. Moving to Chicago for my MBA changed that completely. For the first time, I lived somewhere that dramatically transformed every few months, and it was impossible not to notice. That shift, in colors, atmosphere, and energy, was so striking that I started taking photos of the campus throughout the year, eventually turning photography into a personal passion.

Fall

Fall hit me like a “wow” moment. I remember walking onto campus during my first few days at Booth and feeling like I had stepped into a movie. The leaves were turning brilliant shades of yellow, orange, and red, and the classic Gothic buildings of UChicago looked even more majestic surrounded by fall colors. It was the perfect way to start the school year, the excitement of something new, mixed with this breathtaking scenery. Even after that first fall, coming back from summer break to see the campus dressed in warm tones never stopped amazing me.

Winter

Then came winter, and it was a big adjustment. Snow, freezing temperatures, wind… it was all new to me. But what surprised me most was how beautiful and cozy everything became. From inside the library with its glass ceiling, you could watch snow falling gently outside while staying warm with a coffee and your laptop. The fireplaces in the study rooms and lounges lit up, and holiday lights wrapped around the trees across campus. It felt like a winter postcard, and gave me a whole new appreciation for indoor spaces and small comforts.

Spring

Spring was like waking up. After months of cold and gray, the campus exploded with color. Flowers bloomed everywhere, birds returned, and suddenly you’d see people enjoying the sun, reading on the grass, or just chatting outside. It reminded me how much community there is at Booth, people naturally reconnecting, full of energy and optimism again.

Summer

And summer? Summer is pure magic. The campus turns bright green, ivy climbs up the buildings, and the trees seem to stretch five stories high. Everyone is outside, sitting on the grass, walking by the lake, soaking in every bit of sunlight. It’s peaceful, beautiful, and full of life.

Looking back, my camera didn’t just capture how the campus changed, it captured how I changed, too. Experiencing four seasons for the first time was like living four different versions of Booth and overall The University of Chicago, each with its own charm. It made me fall in love with the school in new ways, again and again.