Snow brings trials, joy to campus

Winter in Kirksville, Mo., makes me feel like I'm living during the pioneer era.

At least, that's what I like to imagine as I navigate my way through snowdrifts fighting the windy cold -- or in some cases, a blizzard -- on my way to class. My whole life I've been spoiled with car or bus transportation dropping me off 10 feet from the door of school, so walking 10 minutes across campus in below-freezing cold is a bit of an adventure. One that requires tall socks, leggings (in pioneer lingo I guess these might be called long underwear), jeans, layers of shirts and a big coat with a furry hood that makes me resemble more of a lion than a girl braving the not-so-far reaches of a college campus.

Even in my dorm room I can't escape the cold. The residence hall I live in doesn't have thermostats in individual rooms, and that makes it more than a little chilly. My roommate frequently resorts to wearing her big coat even while she's doing homework at her desk. Although Truman is a liberal arts college, I don't think the word liberal extends to the heat supply.

Despite the cold temperatures, I am excited that I got to live through the Blizzard of 2011 (also affectionately referred to among Truman students as the snowpocalypse). We actually got two snow days at Truman because of it -- big news because the last time the university shut down due to snow was in 1976.

Even though we've had snow on the ground here since December, I really do like snow. It's so peaceful (the non-blizzard kind, at least) and gorgeous. Walking in falling snow always makes me feel pretty and loved by God, even after I come inside and it melts in my hair. I love sledding, making snow angels and writing messages in fresh snow. My friends and I took advantage of our free time and the abundance of snow to do all of these things. We even got to jump into a snowbank that was waist-deep. Life doesn't get much better than that.

Although I want to appreciate the snow while it's here, I will admit that I did a joyful little dance today outside in the 50-degree weather -- despite a puddle-soaked shoe. After all, I'm sure the pioneers were happy when spring came, too.

Mia Pohlman recently graduated from Perryville High School, where she wrote a monthly column about being a high school senior. She will continue her column through her first year at Truman State University.