It’s that time of year again. Icy roads, half-melted snow piles and cold classrooms give my life a seemingly permanent gray tinge of gloom. Don’t get me wrong, I love winter – when it’s December. The holiday season is my favorite time of year but now the lights are gone, the Christmas trees have been packed away and school is back in full swing.

Third quarter is, in my opinion, the worst part of the school year. There is nothing to look forward to, no breaks in the monotony of routine and classwork is getting harder and harder. With AP exams in May, teachers have picked up the pace in an attempt to cram the rest of curriculum into one semester. Spring break doesn’t come until fourth quarter, and until then all is books, binders and Google Classroom assignments.

With the tiresome school routine and dismal weather, it is no surprise that people are missing summer. Every time I check Instagram there is another throwback picture featuring a warm beach, bronzed skin or sunglasses, and I can’t help but feel nostalgic for all the fun and relaxation summertime brings. Just thinking about listening to music by the pool fills me with longing.

In the meantime, I will try to make the most of these next five months and not get too tired of my unchanging schedule or the bleak outdoors; instead I will focus on all the good things that come with winter, like hot chocolate, ice skating and snow days. A positive attitude could also help me, and everyone else, stay on top of school work and avoid the dreaded third quarter slump. So while the first months of the year may be boring and dreary, there are still plenty of reasons to stay happy.