As a kid, I would be so excited for rainy days. Almost as rare as Christmas, I would relish the traditions it brought. Me and my brother would make little tinfoil boats and have them race down the side of the road along with the collected rain matter. My mom would put a fire on and we would all watch movies. We would make hot chocolate and feel its warmth radiate through our bodies. And through the windowpanes, the sound of raindrops eased me into delightful daydreams.
Ten years later I find myself having to walk thirty minutes to class in what I would call a downpour (but everyone else would probably chalk it up to a nice drizzle). Water has seeped past my coat and reached my skin leaving me damp, sick, cold, and downright grumpy.
In that moment, rain had lost all its novelty.
In this state of irritability, I didn’t stop to realize the magnificent benefits of rain. Flying into state college, you get to see the luscious greenery only possible because of how much rain central Pennsylvania gets. Rain is the key for all the beauty surrounding us in the abundance of nature.
So how do you survive the imminent presence of rain in central PA? First of all, keep a rain jacket/shell/umbrella/trash bag/anything water resistant with you at all times. It could be 70 degrees and sunny one minute and raining the next and you don’t want to be caught in a storm for your long walk home. Secondly, don’t wear mesh shoes any day that it’s supposed to rain. There’s nothing worse than soaked socks. And finally, once you escape the rain by entering any building, shake the rain off of yourself like a dog and stow your rain jacket in your backpack. Otherwise the water will drip not only all over your desk and your stuff, but also all over the people sitting next to you. Trust me, not fun.
Last month I had another fun experience with rain. I had an interview for a student org for which I had to dress business professional. Unfortunately it was pouring down rain and I had to walk half a mile in heals. But there was nothing I could do. And in this type of situation, there is really only one thing I can advice. One thing I wish someone had told me before coming to college: strut your stuff. Even though you are so out of your comfort zone coming from drought-ridden California, fake it ‘till you make it.
Because eventually you will make it. The rain pouring down not only nourishes the plants all around us, but it is a symbol in our lives. It is an obstacle to be overcome just like so many other experiences in college. And all you can do during these obstacles is put on some confidence and try it out. You’re going to fail. But every failure is guiding you on your journey to success.
So even though obstacles may pour down like rain, they are nourishing you all the same.
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