Snow days are peaks in our memories’ terrains: they mark days of unexplainable sleepiness, joy, laziness, and serenity. Wyatt Dayhoff ’22 explains that snow days are “a glorified day off.” He goes on to say, “The joy of waking up late and then looking outside and seeing snow is a really nice feeling.”
Zoë Nutsford ’22 explains that snow days are a chance for fun and relaxation. She states, “I would go outside and do some sledding … hang out with family, sleep in.” Snow days are also a chance for her to pick up and develop hobbies, like learning how to ice skate. These rare occasions make us feel relieved because the extra time we always wish for unexpectedly appears, and with it, a beautiful, snow-covered landscape.
Despite our unusually warm winter, snow days may be on the horizon. But the new learning models, hybrid and online, may threaten the continuation of the snow day. When asked about the inclusion of snow days in online and hybrid learning, Nutsford states, “I think it would be a fun idea because it just gives us a chance to take a break from school and go outside and enjoy the snow whereas otherwise, we would just be sitting down, glued to our computers, just continuing to do the norm.” Snow days offer a break from the monotonous routine of Zoom classes and canceled events in a global pandemic.
Dayhoff explains that true snow days, without asynchronous work, can allow high schoolers to renew the childhood joy that used to accompany our snow days during younger grades. Dayhoff articulates, “Snow days in lower school and even middle school were like the best day ever because your parents would drive you out and you would go sledding. It was this giddy excitement. But then, when you get into high school, you know that there is going to be all of that homework, and so there isn’t really the same magic about it for sure. So I think if you really are committed to restoring the childhood joy to it, you can’t assign very much homework because that’s what changes the whole sensation.” We’re all under constant pressure to be productive. Snow days can remove this pressure, so we’re more productive when school starts back up again.
Yes, snow days are a slight disruption. But as we’ve shown in almost a year of the pandemic that has turned our lives upside down, we’re resilient. Bad surprises are our new norm: domestic coups, shutdowns, and cancellations. A good surprise—permission to let out a breath, relax and smile—is what many of us need. What better day for unexpected joy than when our small world is soft, quiet, and beautiful?
