Even on cold snowy days, the meandering pathways through Abington are breathtaking.
College students in particular are frantic by December with projects, presentations and exams. But when snow piles up and school is closed, a day filled with movies and snowball fights isn’t necessarily an option. Penn State Abington junior Stacy Wanerman, president of the Student Government Association, reflected on the bittersweet nature of a college snow day on the Lions Tales blog.
A student of any age is always looking forward to winter for a snow day, but sometimes are snow days the best thing? I remember when I was in elementary school it was the greatest thing. It was an unexpected day off that was filled with playing in the snow and drinking hot chocolate. My friends and I would play for hours to the point where it would become too dark to see our snowman.
...the idea of snow days came across my mind and how much I miss the days I could just run and play in the snow without a care. I assume it is all in growing up.
Then came high school, and snow days had a new meaning. They became days that we got our work delayed or pushed back. The math test or the history paper that was due, well, the snow day gave you an extra day to do it. When it came to going outside, it was upsetting that we couldn’t drive because our parents felt the roads were unsafe. At the time it was our job to just disagree with our parents and get upset about not being able to see our friends when we didn’t have school. Then came college, though, and snow days again began to have another new meaning.
From loving snow days to being upset about them, in college they seem to be bittersweet. This past week (Dec. 10), we had a snow day. If it was any other day in the semester I wouldn’t have minded as much, except this was the last Tuesday of the semester. The last of my classes prior to exams and the final chance to get your work in, but because they canceled classes, teachers had to adjust. So my snow day ended up being spent as an extra study day, which was great while also figuring out what to do with my classes that I missed. Though amongst all of this the idea of snow days came across my mind and how much I miss the days I could just run and play in the snow without a care. I assume it is all in growing up.
Stacy Wanerman is a junior majoring in business management/marketing. She has been active in student government and a committed advocate for her fellow students.
The Lions Tales blog features a cast of five Abington students, a few of whom rotate out each semester. To read more Lions Tales, go to http://pennstateabington.wordpress.com/
