Most of us can think back to the first day of class last week and remember what was the popular topic of the day.
For me when I look back all I can think of snow…lots and lots of snow. I reached my first class Monday and it probably only took five minutes to hear all sorts of groans and moans about how we should have had a snow day.
I’ll admit it – I was one of those students that just did not want to sit through an hour of lecture but I began to really think about the purpose of snow days.
At this point I must pose the question: are snow days really all that amazing? Better yet, are they really beneficial to students?
In all honesty, I challenge all students to look back at their history of their school career and find a snow day when they actually did something productive.
I know I would leap for joy when I used to see the name of whatever school I was attending scroll across that screen. I was getting a day off to just sleep in, watch TV, eat popcorn, sleep some more. Snow days used to be a day of freedom.
I do not know if it is my current exhaustive schedule or just that I realize we had just gotten back from break that has me down on the free day off from classes but I just don’t see the point anymore. Maybe I should rephrase – I just don’t see the point in complaining when the decision to not cancel class has already been made.
Yes, bummer, I don’t get to sleep off all of the hard work I have been doing and it is so super cold out that cars won’t start but there is somebody somewhere that finds making it to class a reasonable feat for all of us and I have to agree.
It is important to keep in mind that we are attending a university where most students live on or near campus – in other words most of us can walk to class. It may be a little chilly but suck it up.
Furthermore, if the decision has already been made, why skip? In this case, we just came back from break and we had Martin Luther King Day coming up so it was not a matter of needing rest.
We are at a level in our education and our lives that when an executive decision is made we should be accepting that decision by an authoritative figure.
I am confident that the decision was made in our best interest.
Use the class period to figure out what you can do to get ahead in that class so you can have down time later.
I’m not completely unreasonable – snow days are great when they are necessary. But when we do get a snow day don’t waste it.
Have some amazing fun but use that time to get ahead in classes or do some reading. School is all about balance and learning how to make the best out of any situation. Why not make the best of having class that day?