UDream day
There’s no single way to spend a perfect day at the University of Dayton — but if you ask students to imagine it, the answers reveal the rhythms, relationships and small rituals that make campus feel like home. From slow mornings and favorite food stops to pick-up games, study sessions and sunset walks, these “dream days” capture the moments that define life as a Flyer.
Annabelle Karch ’27
Adolescence to young adult education, English and Spanish world language major
Annabelle Karch’s dream day starts the best way possible: no alarm. She wakes naturally at 9 a.m. to a warm, partly cloudy morning and doesn’t rush a single second of it, coffee in hand, reality TV on, roommates close. When hunger strikes, a midday stop at Art Street for a sandwich, chips and a smoothie is a must for her to fuel up for a soccer game victory with her intramural team. Later, she’s at the Rec leading her regular crew through yoga, filling the room with the easy energy of someone with a real passion for the craft. A student band just happens to be playing in the neighborhood to soundtrack an evening stroll at golden hour, capping off her day.
Emery Aschenbrener ’29
Marketing major
8:30 a.m. is sleeping in when you’re a first-year varsity women’s soccer player, according to Emery Aschenbrener. She greets a clear, sunny morning with a long walk and a stop at Val’s Bakery in downtown Dayton for some coffee and fresh air. Then it’s back to what she loves most: training and lifting with her teammates, because a day without seeing them doesn’t really count. She keeps the momentum going with a hot yoga class before making a well-curated run through to Dorothy Lane Market in nearby Oakwood, emerging with everything she needs for a proper picnic lunch in the sunshine. By night, she’s in full reset mode with her room cleaned, eye patches on and winding down with intention. Lights are out by 10:30 p.m. to return to the reality of morning practices the next day.
Zay Min Htike ’27
Finance and business analytics major
Zay Min Htike wakes up with the sun to enjoy the campus before it comes to life. A morning workout at the Rec shakes off any lingering sleep before taking his time to make breakfast — sunny-side up eggs and a good cup of matcha — to fully settle into the rhythm of the day. His Faith and Justice class fits the mood perfectly, providing a breath of reflective, fresh air amidst a busy semester. Lunch is a Kennedy Union’s Spice Bowl, taken outside where the real conversations happen with friends, fresh air and every piece of campus gossip worth knowing. The afternoon finds him at the Hanley Sustainability Institute, riffing with coworkers on ideas for campus events, the kind of low-stakes creative energy that doesn't feel like work. The evening brings a slow loop around campus, stopping every few steps to trade hellos with someone he knows, because there’s always someone he knows. He ends up on Stuart Hill just in time to watch the sunset paint the sky.
Zade McIntosh ’29
Health science major
With no classes on the horizon, Zade McIntosh is fully rested when he wakes at 11 a.m. The first order of business is brunch at VWK or Marycrest, where friends have a way of materializing right when you need them. If his mom happens to be on campus that day, there’s a detour to her office for some easy, unhurried time together before the rest of the day takes over. Then it’s time to play. Trumpet in hand, he joins the Dayton Jazz Ensemble for practice, where the music fills the room, and everyone leaves in a better mood than they arrived. The evening picks up with a gym session and an intramural basketball game — his team wins, obviously. When the night settles, he and his friends find a spot to study, swapping questions and stories in a steady rhythm, the line between productivity and just hanging out blissfully blurred.
Hearing from a variety of students about what their dream day involves got me thinking about my own ideal UD day …
Elizabeth Krahe ’27
Adolescence to young adult education and English major
Similar to others, there is no alarm clock blaring in my ear, and I wake up comfortably around 9 a.m., fully rested. I leisurely cook a full breakfast and make my perfect coffee and join my roommates on our porch to enjoy the warm air and cool breeze blowing past. Before it gets too warm, I take a stroll around the student neighborhood, stopping by the Village where the club water polo team is hosting a team cookout for lunch. With no classes, I have all the time in the world to intentionally catch up with friends. Through conversation, I pocket some ideas for future UD Magazine articles that I’ll bring to the office the next day. In the evening, I meet up with my bandmates for a quick practice before heading to Milano’s, where we have our pick of outdoor seating for dinner, closing out the night with good food, lively conversation and competitive card games.
All photos contributed