It is that moment that every high schooler looks forward to: being able to drive to school. There are many reasons as to why this is true. For one, you don’t have to ride the big, yellow limo, a.k.a. the bus. For another, you’re able to show off the car that you bought over the summer with your hard-earned money. And, my personal favorite, being able to blast whatever music you want and sing along to your heart’s desire. (It’s kind of hard to justify hitting that high F in “Defying Gravity” on the school bus considering you kind of have to scream to reach it.)

Alas, all good things must come to an end, and that end usually hits about mid- to late-November when the wind, snow, and, most importantly, cold hits you right in the face. Most high schoolers think themselves invincible to everything, including the weather, but Mother Nature is one thing that none of us can survive. Here are some of my tips (as a small, cold-blooded, bad-circulated person) to keep warm on the hike into Delphi Community High School:

• Crank up the heat in your car

• Gather the maximum amount of heat into your body and pray that it stays during the 100-yard jog.

• Wear warm clothes

• Pants, wool tights beneath a skirt (just because it’s cold doesn’t mean you can’t look cute), fuzzy socks, warm boots or some sort of closed-toe shoe, and a long-sleeved shirt.

• Wear layers

• A coat is a must when the weather is 30 degrees or less, but I like to also have on a jacket or a thick cardigan beneath my coat. This way, if it’s too hot in the school for you (though I can’t fathom how), you can un-layer.

• Hats, scarves, gloves, etc.

• I know that you probably spent thirty minutes working on your hair, but most heat escapes through the soles of your feet and the top of your head. The solution? Wear a hat! A scarf is extra protection between the freezing air, the collar of your coat, and your neck. And gloves can help keep your skin from getting unbearably cracked and red.

• Walk briskly

• The faster you walk, the warmer you tend to be because exercise. (It’s secretly brilliant.) I know the idea of chatting with your friends as you walk into school is very appealing, but when it comes to winter, my philosophy is every man for himself. The Three Musketeers can be saved for spring.
• Bonus: the faster you walk, the less likely you are to be hit by an irresponsible driver!

Hope these tips helped! Snow may be pretty, but it sucks when it gets in your shoes.