Sledding vital UConn experience

The temperature at UConn has dropped dramatically. The wind has picked up. Snow covers the ground. Most students will not even dare to venture far outside their buildings, let alone go sledding.

Even though many people dislike the snow, sledding is a fun experience students should attempt while at UConn. Many students complain about the location of Mansfield-Storrs. However, the relative isolation and openness of areas near campus make prime spots to enjoy the snow.

Late Wednesday night, after the blizzard had subsided, my friend and I bundled up to enjoy this fun pastime. After taking time to put large trash bags over our jackets to keep us dry, we got a good chuckle out of our odd-looking attire and set out for the hill.

Very few people were out, but earlier in the day, those before us had blazed paths in the snow. The stars were out in the sky, and away from the main road, the air was calm and quiet.

Using the "flying saucer" sled we had purchased for five dollars, speed and momentum were easy to obtain as we sled down the hill. Gaining speed, it was easy to notice the bumps and the rocks along the way. We could let out a yell or a holler of excitement and no one was around to hear. Once at the bottom, the dreaded walk back up the steep slope had begun, but we knew it was well worth the effort by the time we reached the top.

Over the course of the time we were out, the two of us even did a few two-person runs where we linked our sleds. Our combined weight made reaching high speeds and excitement extremely easy. At other times we sled down as individuals, attempting to race to the bottom.

On several occasions, while picking up speed on the hill, we spun out of control and accidentally had the sled turn around thus forcing us to go down backwards. While some may think this could be scary, the thrill was enough to create more excitement

Over the course of two hours, students can easily get in numerous runs down the hill. Some students have even constructed miniature sled jumps on the hills, which can be quite exhilarating or quite painful depending on how fast the sled hits the mound. The point of this story was simply to prove that sledding is fun.

Many college students are probably not familiar with the story told above or only remember such events from their childhood. If so, take a chance and try it once again. Maybe a smaller and slower hill is the choice for you. However, please do not just sit in the dorm room and complain about how the outside weather is too cold. Do not complain about how much you hate snow. Rather, enjoy the beauty and the exhilaration of it all.

Maybe sledding is not the perfect event. If such is the case, just get a group of friends together, jump in a snow bank and make snow angels. Alternatively, participate in the classical snowball fight with a group of friends. At the least, go out with others and frolic in the snow.

The friendships formed at college are the friendships that will last a lifetime. Due to the adventure and playfulness of sledding, the bonds of friendship will only become stronger for those people who undertake this escapade with you. When looking back at the college career, late night excursions to go on breathtaking sledding adventures will quickly come to mind.

Once you find a friend to go sledding with, remember the following simple rules. Going alone could be dangerous. Remember to be safe. Most importantly, do not forget to bundle up.

Additionally, when my friend and I were out on the hill, we noticed numerous clear trash bags floating around. If you are going to take advantage of the environment and the snow, please be respectful of the surroundings. These trash bags are dangerous to animals, so make sure you depart the hill with everything you brought. Leave only your footprints and sled tracks behind.

Outdoor experiences such as sledding or a snowball fight with friends are a vital part of college life. It is acceptable and even desirable at points on a snowy day to act like a child. With the stress of classes and the pressure of homework, a playful evening in the snow might be just what is most wanted and needed.

In many ways, college is primarily an academic experience. However, college is also a time to enjoy the little things in life that we forgot made us smile. Do you remember how when you were young and innocent, it was fun to hit someone you knew with a snowball? Life goes on, but it is still fun. Not only fun, but also the person hit will smile or at least wink back at you.

Do you remember when you were a child and you laughed because you went too fast and fell off the sled? Such things are only memories if the individual consciously decides to make them so. With a little bit of energy and enthusiasm, those childish times can live on and be experienced at UConn.

Snow can bring out the worst in people. It can make them grumpy, angry and cold. However, snow can also make the old feel young again. More appropriately for the UConn student, snow can make the stressed and over-worked feel and smile like a child again. Now is the time to take advantage of UConn's isolated location and just have fun. Have fun, but always be safe. Be adventuresome, bold and daring.

While convincing people to go sledding may be a trite topic, inducing young adults to feel childish again is not passé in any respect. To say that sledding and playing in the snow are childish events is a compliment of the highest nature.