This winter is the first I have spent entirely on the East Coast. I come from the sunny beaches of Los Angeles, where 50-degree weather is enough for us to break out our warmest layers. 

I was convinced I would hate the cold here—my belief solidified by the horror stories my older sister and friends told me about their first East Coast winter. They insisted I would be pummeled day and night by harsh winds, blizzards, and rain storms; therefore, my spirit quickly became worn down.

However, I have quickly come to realize that winter here in Providence is so much more than just rainy days and gloomy weather. What I once saw as a desolate landscape, haunted by the creaky branches submitting to the whim of the wind swirling through campus, has transformed. 

Winter means snow glistening at every angle I turn my head. The gleam seems magical, and the world is illuminated by tiny jewels scattered everywhere. 

Snow days are pelting your friends with small, but mighty snowballs, the fluffy snow quickly transformed into weapons of war. I duck behind my school bag for cover, scrambling to respond with a snowball of my own. 

We never turn against each other for too long though. Our snowball fights quickly turn into making pictures on the snow-covered lawns, using our shoes as paintbrushes, and giggling over the images we trace out. 

This sense of camaraderie carries on once we’re in the warmth and comfort of our dorm rooms. The cold weather seems reason enough to cram as many of us on the twin XL bed as we can fit and watch The Sound of Music late into the night. 

Last weekend, my friends and I walked back from the train station late at night after a day spent in Boston. It was snowing heavily as we trekked up the hill back to North Campus. Instead of complaining about my cold, wet feet or the mascara streaking on my face as I once would have, I was propelled forward by the Christmas carols we sang and the swinging of our hands in unison. My face was rosy—not just from the cold, but also because of the laughter and face-splitting smiles we shared. 

I admit I am excited to walk outside without the wind whipping my face, to not have to contemplate how many layers I should wear to make sure I am warm enough for the day. I look forward to sunny days spent on the beach or hanging out with friends on the Main Green. 

However, now I am able to appreciate the contrasting beauty of the wintertime. It seems unfair to only appreciate nature when it is vibrant and green during the warmer seasons. To truly love and enjoy the outdoors is to also embrace it even when it is less forgiving to my preference for the sun and the warmth. The world has become brighter because of how beautiful it looks in the winter.