The crisp snow crunches beneath the feet of the students as they rush into the entrance at Knolls. The weather is bone-chillingly cold, yet there seems to be no coats in sight. Winter coats, hats, scarves, gloves, earmuffs, and boots are worn to keep warm. But why are these winter clothing items so rare in high schools like MK, when the weather in New Jersey is so bitterly chilly?
What are some common reasons teens do not wear jackets?
- Inconvenience
- Dislike of heavy winter clothing
- Self consciousness
One day at Morris Knolls is 4 blocks long, each having a short passing time of only a couple of minutes, which does not give the majority of students enough time to even use the bathroom between classes, even less so when dropping off or picking up a jacket from a locker. Carrying a jacket can only lead to distractions and irritation for students, so, understandably, students do not want to bring a coat. This begs the question, does that have to mean that students have to suffer through the cold on the bus ride home?
Heavy winter clothing has been a hatred of many, as once you enter a building, the stuffy heat makes your scruffy scarf itch, and the insulation of your jacket becomes moist with sweat; it is not pretty, so it may be simpler to avoid it altogether. Here are a few words from winter jacket haters:
Junior, Jillianne Aquino, says that heavy jackets are too much to carry, and layering feels too uncomfortable, especially with the irregular heating in the school.
Sophomore Sophya Camarena agrees that heavy jackets are a hassle to bring to school. She also adds that the inconvenient location of her locker makes it even more difficult to bring a coat.
For the most part, students are undeniably cold in negative degree weather; when the wind is howling and the sky snows, the hatred of wearing a jacket and the annoyance of its presence seem to disappear. But when you look into the sea of hoodies, jeans, leggings, and sweatshirts, all of a sudden your coat turns you into a penguin in an artic of humans. Self-consciousness is everywhere in teens’ lives, and if it is not yours, unfortunately, everyone else will make sure it is. Staying warm used to be a necessity for survival, but now, fitting in is more important than comfort.
Although it does not matter what students choose to wear, the number of adults, children, and students at MK catching colds, the flu, and fevers is not to be ignored. One way to protect your immune system from weakening is to stay warm. Your health and comfort are much more important than worrying about what others are wearing, so bundle up in this bone-chilling weather!
