Emma Sawatzky, Staff Writer
December 8, 2023
Your breath is visible in the air once again, and frost has begun to glaze over the chilled mornings. With down jackets and wool sweaters back in style, all signs point to one annual epiphany: winter is upon us.
In some ways, the transition to colder temperatures merely marks the passage of time. The first semester is coming to a close, summer tans have faded, and the Beach longs for the return of Spikeball matches. However, student drivers know that taking the wheel during this season presents its own novel sense of opportunity.
Imagine this: you’ve woken up to your car blanketed in white, snow coating the windshield like wrapping paper covering your gift from Santa. In a moment of frailty, you consider doing what a weak and timid driver would do. You might elect to root through the trunk to find the ice scraper that may or may not exist, or even start the engine to allow the car to thaw and retreat back to the warmth of your home in the meantime.
However, you have three missed assemblies and are knocking on detention’s door if you don’t hustle to Lawrence this morning. The parking situation at the MAC has been anything but jolly, and you’ll do whatever it takes to avoid the walk of shame to North in the 4 p.m. darkness. Therefore, the only logical way to proceed is to do absolutely nothing out of the ordinary. Confidence is key as you take the wheel and floor the gas pedal, despite your glacial blindfold.
You know the route to school like the back of your hand–and don’t they say that a loss of one sense heightens the others? Winter is the perfect time to crank the volume up for holiday chart-toppers, an escape from reality and auricular delight. Bestow the gift of your vocal capabilities on those in your carpool, or FaceTime a friend if you get lonely (after all, the snow on your window conveniently shields you from the invasive eyes of policemen). Winter can bring out the worst in less resilient drivers, so the best thing to do is drown out their pesky complaints with carols and serenades–if you can’t hear a thing, they probably aren’t honking!
After your long school day, the time between last class and Afternoon Program carries great promise in terms of winter cheer. For many, childhood memories of snow are punctuated by sledding with friends and family. Except now you’re at least 16 and a half, and this fan-favorite activity is in need of a serious makeover. Why use a sled when you can soar through the air in your motor vehicle?
It’s best to start off small with jumps, in order to test the waters of your car’s capabilities. With fall teams no longer monopolizing the athletic fields, Mason and Almy will soon resemble a mountain terrain park. Although rails and boxes may not be compatible with your Jeep Wrangler, the ramps built on Nobles fields offer great promise to thrill-seeking drivers.
After getting the warmup jumps out of the way, the sky will quite literally be the limit when students begin constructing a half-pipe, made entirely of snow, for the first annual Nobles Big Air contest. The X-Games will find a rival in such vehicular prowess, as we have all witnessed that students’ faith in their cars knows no bounds. Shouts of pure joy will ring out across campus, reminding community members that this engineering feat will become a sacred winter constant.
Though seemingly eternal for Nobles students, this winter season only sticks around for a few months of the year. Cherish these unique conditions, and revel in the opportunity to prove your recently licensed selves.
(Graphic Credit: Alycia Scott-Hiser)
