The leaves on the trees are changing, but the temperature both inside and outside the school is still unpredictable.
We’ve all figured out by now that that different sections of the school call for completely different outfits; three years have taught me to adapt to the different regions. I’ve found that the downstairs classrooms with ceiling A/C units are offensively frigid. Since there are no windows in many of the classes the light of day doesn’t reach and heat up the lower level. This makes layers a necessity for all science classes. In fact, last year I had a class with a student that brought a blanket into Chemistry. She clearly doesn’t take her personal comfort lightly. Being in the cafeteria also feels like you are taking a brisk swim in the Pacific in January. But, the cold is a necessary evil; it counteracts the heat given off by the bodies and cooking going on and prevents the cafeteria from getting gross, so I’ll keep that compliant to myself.
Conversely, math classrooms without windows tend to be quite toasty, especially in the winter when the heat is turned on. The other extreme are the upstairs classrooms that face the senior parking lot, which get a surplus of sunlight, and consequently are sweltering. One such room that is notorious for being hot is the library; the hot, humid conditions can even make someone like me, who is always plagued with a case of goose bumps, peel off a layer or two.
Apart from the uncontrollable obstacles that having a drafty, half underground school entails, teachers also play a role in making getting dressed in the morning a sticky wicket. Most teachers like to keep their classrooms cold, however, I am sympathetic that they are up and moving around while I am stuck in my seat, slowly but surely becoming a human ice sculpture.
As someone that’s always freezing no matter what the temperature is, I’ve learned to adapt. Some combat the cold by donning sweatpants. Personally, I prefer layering long sleeves, sweaters, and scarfs until I start to run the risk of resembling the Michelin man. For those of you that don’t feel the need to go to that extreme, at least listen to your mom and bring a jacket; just looking at you is making me cold.