Recently, I made the wise decision to sign up for the annual Polar Plunge, in which participants take a dip in Lake Ontario’s frigid winter waters. Fairly straightforward, right? Wrong. I had a few expectations prior to signing up for this event. I thought that we would be able to witness polar bears dive into Lake Ontario. If people were participating instead of polar bears, why wouldn’t they call it the “People Plunge?” Despite this alternative name for the event sounding like an edgy and angsty pop group, it definitely suits the event better than the original, less accurate name. Now that I’m aware of my impending doom, I have gone through several counter measures to make sure that I don’t die on Sunday when I take the plunge. This includes walking around in shorts and no shirt outside; if you look at the last issue of the paper, there is evidence of this. I plan on stopping because I’ve noticed Public Safety following me around. Either they are afraid that I will eventually pass out from the shock of the cold, or they honestly feel like I pose a threat. Keep in mind that I’m 125 pounds, soaking wet and am barely tall enough to ride on rollercoasters, so one of those options is probably more likely. I’ve only taken cold showers for a week, which is actually more of a problem with Facilities. By the time everyone in my suite has taken a shower, this leaves me with only cold water. I just use the Polar Plunge as justification for this sad reality. By putting my classes aside, I’ve gained hours of free time (two to be exact) that I put towards preparing my body for this event.
Sometimes though, I go to extremes. By looking up documentaries on Polar Bears and their abilities to withstand the long, severe winter conditions at the North Pole, I’ve gained valuable knowledge on coping with colder temperatures. Unfortunately, most of the information that I’ve accrued by watching these documentaries has become worthless because there is one major difference that distinguishes me from the polar bears: I’m not a polar bear. Trust me, at first I was in denial, but after sitting on this reality for a bit, I’ve come to terms with it. This Sunday, whether I’m ready or not, I’m going to take the plunge.
Chiodo is a member of
the class of 2017.
