Fun fact, only 1 out 10 Americans consider winter their favorite season and COVID-19 is making this gloomy season even darker, especially for people who already hate winter. So, what are Triton students doing to keep warm, safe and content during these trying times? 

The activities we are used to doing during wintertime are simply not safe this year, such as seeing family, skiing, and traveling. In order to stay content, we need to find safe things to do in our homes or anywhere with a minimal amount of people. 

“My family started a daily schedule for games and movies, I don’t even think they realize how much it’s helped me”, said 12 year old Tia Sparks. 

Despite how cold it is, going outside and frolicking in the snow can help ease your mind off of the abundance of assignments. Not only does exercise release endorphins, but the cold has been proven to stimulate the release of even more neurotransmitters, like dopamine and serotonin, according to PsychologyToday. Even small adjustments like the whole family cooking together can brighten up everyone’s day. You may not realize how badly you need change until you make changes. 

Juliet Sparks, a senior at Triton, hates winter. She doesn’t like skiing, sledding or snow shoeing, resulting in her staying in her room most of the time.

“I mean usually I would be spending time with my friends but I can’t do that as much this year,” she said, “so I end up in my room all day.”

Staying inside all day is detrimental to one’s health, especially mentally. Sparks says she definitely felt the effects of doing this for the past couple of months and as soon as she made changes, she felt better and had more motivation to do her work.

“I started just driving around a lot,” she said,” and I would listen to my favorite songs or podcasts and I’d get out of my car and walk around a little each time I found a pretty place. On the days that I actually go outside and visit different places, I actually want to do my work, it’s weird.” 

Sparks mentioned that she is really proud of herself for getting up everyday and driving to a new place and that doing this has had a tremendous effect on her work ethic. 

Bridget Tucker, a Triton alumna who graduated last year and is a freshman at Salem State says that starting college was the best thing that’s happened to her in the pandemic.

“I’ve honestly been really lucky because I have been able to go out a lot”, she said, “of course I follow social distancing guidelines, but I’ve genuinely been having the time of my life since starting college.”

Before attending Salem State, Tucker felt a little lost. She said that she wasn’t really doing much other than thinking about the day she would start college but as soon as that day came, her life changed for the better. 

“I’ve definitely made enough college friends that I never get bored or moody anymore. We all love taking mountain trips, going skiing and hiking, and at the end of the day, we usually all do our work together.”

Tucker said that routine has helped her mental health tremendously, and she highly recommends hiking, saying that it is probably the best way to get your mind off things during the pandemic and just take in the beautiful nature around you. 

Tucker has also been reconnecting with a lot of old friends. 

“Another one of my favorite things to do is to facetime people I haven’t talked to in a while,” she said, “it feels good knowing that there’s people who miss me and that I can brighten their day by calling them.”

Cass Nguyen also swears by facetime to keep her spirits up. She is also a senior at Triton and she has had quite the year, undergoing 2 surgeries and losing her grandfather during quarantine. 

“I’ve been in my room a lot just watching Netflix and cuddling with my dog, but I knew that I had to do something other than lying around all day to make myself feel better.”

Nguyen started facetiming her friends and it’s made a huge difference in her spirit. 

“I just missed talking to humans honestly, I mean I didn’t know how deprived I was until I made that first call,” she said,”not that my friends never called me, but I just never picked up because I felt so disconnected from everyone and everything for so long.”