As a proud Wichita State alum and current employee, I’ve grown to love the winter season in Kansas over the last several years. But I’ll be the first to admit that I was not adequately prepared when winter rolled around my freshman year. Being from central Georgia, where “harsh” winters were rare, I had no idea just how cold (and snowy) it could get here. To put it in perspective for you, the most snow I had ever seen back home was about two inches – and that was enough to shut everything down for a couple of days.

For any new Shockers that are also coming to Wichita from a warmer climate, I wanted to share a few of the lessons that I have learned in recent years to help you navigate a Kansas winter for semesters to come -  

• Invest in a window scraper - In Georgia, when the windshield got a little icy, I would just take out a debit card and scrape it off. However, I learned quickly that this method was no match for winter in Wichita. Investing in a proper window scraper will save you time, energy and a lot of frustration before those early morning classes.
• Dress for the occasion - Take it from me, the girl who did not own a true winter coat until she walked to class for the first time in twenty-degree weather. The standard collection of a winter coat, gloves, ear covers and thick socks will serve you well!
• Check your weather app every day - It may sound obvious, but Wichita weather can change in an instant. You do not want to be caught outside in shorts and a T-shirt when the temperature suddenly drops. My weather app and I have become very close friends since moving here, and something tells me yours will too.

Don’t let these lessons scare you! While Wichita winters can be intense at times, they also bring beautiful landscapes, cozy days and wonderful memories with friends and classmates! Just make sure that you pack that window scraper and winter wardrobe when you’re making those memories!