When Hawaii native Kristy Leong applied to colleges, the weather played a big role in her decision.
"One of the reasons I came to school on the East Coast is because I wanted to experience the snow," the College junior said.
Three years later, however, Leong says she has had enough.
"I'm done. I don't want to deal with it anymore, I don't like the cold, I hate it."
Leong is not alone in her aversion to winter. Many Penn students who hail from warmer climates are finding it difficult to adjust to snow and the winter season in general.
College freshman Luis Hernandez said he had never seen so much snow prior to coming to Penn.
"I like it, but I'm pretty sure if there were more than one day of it, I'd be hating it," said Hernandez, who is originally from Torreon, Mexico.
Philadelphia's winter climate can also have deeper psychological effects on students.
Seasonal depression, also referred to as seasonal affective disorder, affects about 10 million Americans annually. Another 25 million are said to suffer from milder versions. Women are four times more likely to be affected by the condition than men.
"The winter slump is definitely real," said William Alexander, the deputy director of Counseling and Psychological Services at Penn.
Although Alexander said that there are few reported cases of SAD among Penn students, he noted that depression in general is one of the top reasons that students go to CAPS.
"If there is a seasonal component to the depression, it's typically not the only component," Alexander said. "Just being a Penn student is stressful enough."
College sophomore Grafton Ifill said he despises the winter. A native of Nassau, Bahamas, Ifill described the snow as "discouraging initially, but you get over it."
"It feels like you're making a real big effort to go to class," Ifill said. "I've been staying inside all the time ... I can't wait for [the snow] to go."
Alexander said the best way for Penn students to deal with stress and depression is to "stick with their routines."
"The challenge is how to sustain a balanced life ... try to structure your life and have some order to it so you're not at the mercy of your stress," Alexander said.
Alexander recommends that students focus on getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods and exercising throughout the winter months and all year round.
