So as I type right now, the view outside my window is completely white from the worst snow storm I've ever seen. Though I'm a little concerned, I can't help but feel content and secure inside my apartment with my coffee and laptop. Anyway, all of this free time has got me reflecting on the past winter, and how I actually didn't hate it!

I have hated the season of winter my whole life. Growing up I loved skateboarding, basketball, bike exploring, or really any sort of outdoor activity that required at least a 50 degree day to be enjoyable. So winter generally signified the few miserable months out of the year where I couldn't do anything I wanted. I often dreamed about going to a big college in the south, where I'd be able to tailgate well into November and December, maintain a light tan year round, and not have to wear my winter coat ever.

So of course I ended up making the economically wise decision to attend SUNY Oneonta instead, where the winter is twice as bad as it is in Long Island. My Freshman year was the worst winter I'll probably ever experience. There was so much snow, so much cold, and so little to do. Frankly I was quite miserable until mid April.

Despite the horrible weather, I've learned to love this college and town for its flaws, and have discovered all of the little beautiful things it has to offer. Each year I have spent here has gotten exponentially better than the one prior. I have managed to build an amazing life for myself here, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Leaving this town in May is going to be really difficult for me, and that is precisely why I didn't want this winter to end. Back in November, when the temperatures started to plummet and we got our first snowfall, I remember thinking about spring, the season that I had always longed for every time I saw snow. However this time spring signified something very different to me. Though the season still represents fun, recovery, and promise, this particular spring signifies the end of my college career, and the start of my adult life. These are some scary thoughts for a 21-year-old who still doesn't know exactly where his life is going to go. So yeah, that November was probably the first time I ever looked at a looming winter and didn't feel anxious. In fact, I finally felt at peace with the season for the first time in my life.