There is a constant battle between the winter weather and off-campus college students. For others as well as myself, battling the cold has been pretty easy this winter, that is, until now.
Recently the temperatures have been in the teens each morning. Every morning I walk to school it’s usually about 16 or 17 degrees when I leave the house. My walk is about seven minutes to campus, but in those seven minutes I have to dodge icy walkways and make sure the wind doesn’t blow me over.
Keene State College junior and psychology major Allison Sonia said she faces similar issues.
“I have a car but my driveway is long and narrow and there are a lot of people in my apartment building so we are constantly blocking each other in,” Sonia said, “By the time I could get my car out, let it heat up and find parking it would actually take longer than simply walking.”
Sonia said that she enjoys walking to campus in the morning.
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“I enjoy walking because it wakes me up in the morning. Also, there is a cute little cafe halfway between campus and my apartment that I like to stop at for coffee and sometimes breakfast,” Sonia said, “I live close enough that the walk isn’t painful; it takes me about ten minutes to walk if I’m not hurrying.”
However, walking in the cold is just half the battle. One of the biggest struggles is figuring out what to wear so you’re not freezing on the walk to campus but also not breaking a sweat by the time you get to class.
Sonia said that she doesn’t like to layer up that much.
“I wear just typical winter wear because I warm up while I’m walking and I don’t like being too hot in the winter,” Sonia said.
“Typically, I always wear a jacket that goes to about my knees, pants, a scarf, gloves and sometimes a hat if it is really cold.
“I walk home in the afternoon or after dinner and try only to walk to and from campus once a day. During my breaks I do my best to stay on campus to avoid the bitter cold,” Sonia said.
KSC junior Jocelyn Lencki said that she walks to and from her house at least five times a day.
“I [wear] about three layers including a hat, jacket, gloves and thick fuzzy socks,” Lencki said.
Lencki said she lives closer to campus so the walk isn’t that bad, “I don’t mind walking at all,” Lencki said, “But in the winter time it sucks because it gets really cold.”
With temperatures dropping almost into the negatives with wind chill, it’s important to stay warm.
Lencki said, “Make sure you’re wearing a hat and gloves, and definitely wear boots that will keep your feet warm!”
Shelby Iava can be contacted at siava@kscequinox.com
