Rain hits the screen of my window, and I can hear the wind begin to howl. Here at South Carolina, and specifically at Wofford College, we joke that we control the weather to always impress our visitors with a gorgeous day of sunshine--no matter the time of year. Only a few times has it rained since I've moved into school, so we definitely needed a good poor. Being from Pennsylvania, I've always loved rainy, fall afternoons denoted by mugs of warm apple cider and cozy blankets. The storm that came rolling in last week was just what I was missing. I had been working on an essay when the first sign of severe weather appeared: my friend, Ben Boat, snapchatted me a picture of him soaking wet because he had been out for a run. Of course I laughed, but then the sound of the rain grew louder. The wind blew stronger. Phones all across campus buzzed simultaneously with a school-wide alert: The NWS has initiated a tornado warning for our area. My friend across the hall entered our room to check that we were okay. The boyfriend of our suitemate also walked in to remind us to stay in our common room and not the cubes where our windows are, and also that we should remove our electronics from the window as they are the vulnerable points during a tornado.
Don't tell my RA, but I decided that a few candles might make riding out the storm a little cozier. My roommate and I checked our weather apps to confirm that the storm was approaching. Our other friend across the hall shared that his girlfriend-- who attends another school in the area--was moved down to her basement. The storm was getting serious. In light of letting the seriousness get to our heads, my roommate, friend, and I spontaneously threw a dance party. Besides, what better is there to do when a storm comes than to take a dance break from studying?
Phones then rang with calls from parents. As many students are not far from home and their families were similarly affected by the tornado warning. Mothers and fathers alike were assured that, no, we are not worried, and yes, we are safely inside our dorms and away from the windows. The storm continued on as the snapchat stories rolled in. Here are a few of my favorites from the hour of anxiety that represent how Wofford handles severe weather:
1. The hard-working students stay committed to their work and continue on despite moving to the hallways for safety. As always, "work hard" is the first half of our motto.
2. Some of us feel a little flustered and can't even keep our phones still to take a picture. Admittedly, not all of us are as concerned with staying focused on homework when a tornado warning arises.
3. Here we see evidence of Wofford's committed students who remained in their coveted study rooms. In the two weeks before finals, these rooms are hot real estate and not even a tornado will fool a student into giving up that room.
4. Last but not least, we see in this snapchat what I saw from the safety of my dorm room: community, friendship, and security. Big deal to you or not, there's nothing like a tornado to bring a campus together, gathered in hallways and library basements, to keep each other safe. At the end of the day, that's what Wofford students do best.
Approximately an hour after the first warning text, Wofford students received a follow-up message that the warning was over. The siren stopped. Thankfully, no tornado ever touched down in the area. Dance parties ended, candles were blown out. Once again, I was thankful for the countless number of great, caring students who surround me every day. I was reminded of the fun and charismatic people I get to call my friends. Everyone returned to their respectful places, the studying resumed, and life carried on as usual here at Wofford College.
