Faculty Blog

Wintertime at Fenn

Growing up in Mexico City winter mornings meant crisp, cool temperatures, the thermometer somewhere in the sixties, always with the promise of the beautiful southern sun during the day, where a warm fleece would more than suffice to venture the elements. What a surprise for a young Mexican exchange student when in 1978 in Lexington Massachusetts she saw her first snow and became even fearful of it when during the Blizzard of ’78 she had to stay home for almost a week!

A lot has changed since then. Today, for me, winter means so much more than snow and cold days. I live winter through the eyes of our Fenn boys, who love this season, which for most adults lingers to no end. I love the beginning of the second term at Fenn, when I hear: “I love this season, I can’t wait for winter snow.” At Fenn, the echoes of “I love Thanksgiving, Christmas, winter traditions, skiing, hockey, feeling the cold, building a snowman, building a fort, and hot cocoa with cookies” fill classrooms and hallways. “How many snow days will we have? NOAA is the best website, and let us all write to Mr. Ward to get the cherished snow day.” This is what winter is all about at Fenn.

Whenever I am very cold and yearn for those Mexican winter mornings - especially on my walk to or from class on subzero days -  I forget about the cold as soon as I catch a glimpse of a student in shorts, no jacket, running from one place to another totally unaware of the temperature and probably only thinking of being with his friends, getting to the gym to shoot some hoops, finishing homework, or making plans to enjoy the snow after school. These moments always bring a smile to my face and make me realize that the cold and the snow are just part of the winter season, and that through the eyes of the young, every day is to be celebrated.  Cold, stormy or sunny, at Fenn it is always a good day!