Snow Fort

I could see that it was snowing outside. It was one of the first snowfalls of the year, yet I was already sick of the snow. Actually, there was a lot I was sick about at this point in the semester. I was sick of research papers. I was sick of exams. I was sick of being at school. All of my friends seemed to share my sentiments. Generally, we would just suck it up, buckle down and get our work finished like responsible college kids. However, in a strange marriage of boredom, resentment towards schoolwork and stupidity, we somehow came to the conclusion to build a snow fort. We did not simply want to build one outside the dorm building. That would be too easy. Instead, we wanted to build a fort in the middle of the baseball field. There was no particular reason as to why we wanted to build a fort in the middle of the baseball field, other than sheer curiosity of if we could get away with it. With that, we began to suit up. I was adorned with earmuffs, one glove, snow boots, and a pair of sunglasses that had lenses shaped like beer rootbeer mugs. My friends were also dressed hilariously, with one wearing a Native American headdress and another wearing a giant fur hat with the Russian flag on it. We swiped a snow shovel from the foyer of Jay Hall. We were five teenage boys on a mission to build a fort.

The baseball field after a fresh snowfall really is an amazing site to see. Because people are really not supposed to be on the field, and because every other student respects that rule, there was not a single footprint in the snow. We all stood huddled together, side by side, taking in the unexplored wilderness that lay before us. I thought how only great adventurers who had stumbled across unexplored land could relate to my excitement. After giving the field the reverence and respect it deserved, we were ready to get to work. It was time to have some fun.

I can’t remember who started running first, but it led to us all darting in opposite directions of the field. We ran wildly and freely, speckling the untouched snow with footprints. I was laughing the entire time, allowing myself to just enjoy letting loose for the first time in a long time. I heard somebody making bird sounds on the other end of the field, while another member of our group was wailing out a few Indian yelps. After a few minutes we started to regroup, laughing and stumbling towards the center of the field, ready to begin work on our snow fort.

I believe in being a kid every once in a while. I think people often take themselves too seriously sometimes, and as a result dismiss anything that seems immature. However, by being immature and childlike, I had an unforgettable night, one that helped make my friendships with those guys stronger than ever. It’s important to remember that it is okay to have fun, and allowing yourself to have fun is sometimes just as important as being a hard worker.