How a Winter Storm Can Bring the University Community Together

University of New Haven student Shana-Kay Hyde ’27 reflects on how a campus blizzard slowed daily routines and created unexpected moments of connection, from helping classmates dig out their cars to spontaneous snowball fights.

When a blizzard hit our campus earlier this semester, it didn’t just look different; it felt different.

Walking through campus, the usual paths were buried under thick snow, and everything was at a standstill. Cars and sidewalks were covered, and the streets of West Haven were slower than usual. It was the same campus, but it didn’t operate the same way. People were walking more carefully, taking their time, and watching every step. At first, the storm felt like a hurdle, as getting from one place to another was harder, and things that normally took five minutes were twice as long. But, when I walked through the snow to complete my daily tasks, I noticed something. People were helping each other.

Students were outside clearing the snow from their cars, and some were helping their friends. Moments such as these were different, as during a normal week, everyone is usually focused on their own routine – people move quickly, maybe thinking about assignments, deadlines, and everything else they need to do. There isn’t always time to stop. But the snow forced everyone to slow down. In doing that, it created opportunities for people to come together.

Moreover, another way this unfortunate weather brought a group of students together was through having a snowball fight. For a few minutes, nothing else seemed to matter; no one was thinking about school or the stress that comes along with it. They were just present and living in the moment.

Instead of complaining about the weather, some people embraced it. Even those who didn’t participate in the snowball fight opted to build a snowman. This was one of those simple, unplanned moments that you can’t schedule or recreate. It just happens due to the circumstances that allowed it to. For a short moment, this blizzard was the reason everyone was outside together, sharing something lighthearted during a busy semester.

'Community can show up in the most unexpected ways'

In the end, the snow will melt. Before long the sidewalks were cleared, cars moved normally again, and everyone returned to their routines. But the blizzard left behind more than just snow. It left moments where people helped each other without hesitation. Moments where students paused long enough to simply enjoy where they were; I know I did.

So maybe winter isn’t that bad after all. Even though the storm disrupted schedules and made simple tasks more complicated, it created memories that would not have happened. For a short period of time, the storm reminded me that the community can show up in the most unexpected ways.

In the end, this situation reminded me that campus is not just a place where we attend classes and meet deadlines, but a place where shared experiences shape our time here. Even though much of the snow has disappeared, the feeling of those brief encounters and unexpected moments will remain. I always think to myself that it just takes something out of the ordinary to happen in order to remind us of what we are surrounded by every day.