“It’s way too cold,” sophomore Jahvon Grey said as he walked into school on a brisk Friday morning.

Everyone can agree we have had an unusually cold and snowy winter here in the D.C. Metro area. We have exceeded our number of school days by far and our average snowfall was 7.7 inches higher than the average of the last 30 years. The lowest temperatures of the year have been in the single digits instead of the mid teens.

These freezing temperatures cause more than a small cold. Throughout the year, but especially during the winter, many people suffer from a condition called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), otherwise known as Seasonal Depression. It is a type of depression that occurs at a certain time of the year and can affect anyone. It is estimated that around 10 million Americans suffer from SAD.

Even teens who do not suffer from this condition also suffer from things such as loss of energy in the winter months. The cold can take a physical and mental toll on teens.

“Winter makes me tired and dreary because it’s always so cold and for a person like me who walks home; it just wears you down having to go through that everyday. For those who have sports practice outside they have to deal with it too. Plus winter is just dead and dull, a devoid of all color and that makes me sad to see the world so lifeless,” junior Jack Stutz said.

But with spring approaching the weather is starting to turn around. Monthly average temperatures rise from 31 degrees to 47 degrees just between the months of February and March.

Also, many people suffer from a lack of vitamin D in the winter because the main source of this is the sun. Vitamin D is important because it helps with bone growth and allows your muscles to absorb calcium. Increased exposure to the sun can get rid of this deficiency and help to get rid of the symptoms of tiredness and muscle weakness.

From my personal experience, as the weather gets warmer I become more motivated, attentive and happy and my mood skyrockets. Warmer weather especially drives me to start exercising more which also contributes to happiness. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins which help to boost your mood.

With the return of warmer weather, people will have healthier and happier days.