Series I: The Effects of Sun
April 21, 2024
Writer: Ava Needleman
Editor: Abbie Orlinsky
Initially, when telling people I go to the University of Wisconsin, their first response typically involves the weather. Whether it is the usual remarks of “Is it always so cold?” or “I can’t believe you go to such a cold school!”, almost always I am bombarded with curiosity as to why I would choose such a school where the harsh winters play a massive role.
Before arriving to begin my freshman year, the weather intimidated me most; not the plethora of new faces I would be seeing, or the demanding lifestyle it takes to be a college student, but the weather. It frightened me that such an external factor could negatively impact what was supposed to be the “best four years of my life.”
At that moment, I knew I could not ignore the winter weather, but I could most certainly embrace it. I could find joy in the first snowfall, or watching students race onto the frozen lake with hockey sticks in hand. I could find comfort wrapped in my blankets or the layers I was bundled in when walking from class to class.
As I sit here, on a beautiful spring day, with the sun shining over every single student, the advice I would give to anyone feeling similarly to how I felt, is to just take advantage of it. Take advantage of the life around you. You deserve to enjoy life for more than three months out of the year. Whether you find yourself amid a winter wonderland or a breathtaking summer day, we can all appreciate and learn how to make the most of it. But that being said, who doesn’t love some sun?
