As another snow/ice day rolls over the Plains, now seems like a good time to reflect on the experience of Jan. 21, 2025.
I was fortunate enough to make many great memories throughout my time as a student at Auburn University.
From covering a run to the Final Four to figuring out the best way to cover the 4th-and-31 Iron Bowl loss, my time as a student at the Lovliest Village on the Plains was filled with experiences that I'll carry with me for the rest of my life.
With the university once again under the threat of snow – ok it's just ice let's be real – now seems like a good time to reflect on one of the most unique experiences I had during my time there.
It started the day before on Monday, Jan. 20, which was Martin Luther King Jr. Day. I had returned to my hometown in suburban Birmingham the day before for a dentist appointment. I ended up sleeping through that appointment and rescheduling it for spring break, but that's besides the point.
After an ealy birthday lunch with my parents, I began the two-hour drive back to Auburn. I watched the National Championship Game between Notre Dame and Ohio State with my friends. That was when we got the notification that all university activities had been delated until 11 a.m. the following day.
Jan. 21, 2025 started as a normal day for most people in Auburn. It was a little more prominent for me, however, as it was my 22nd birthday. Between responding to birthday texts, sipping on coffee and halfway paying attention in one of my classes that was meeting over zoom — thanks a lot Dr. Delaney — I was checking the weather to see if anything would actually come of this snow and ice everyone seemed to be losing their minds over.
I personally hoped it would came later that day, or better yet the following morning, as I had birthday plans I didn't want to cancel.
I did not get my wish, however, as the snowflakes started falling at 2 p.m. and by 4 p.m., Auburn had been completely covered.
After feeling sorry for myself for a while, I decided to walk around in the snow with my roommates. After tryimg to do something that resembled sledding on the lid of a plastic container, we decided to walk around the usually busy area.
One of the many local Mexican restaurants was open, something I'll always consider to be some kind of birthday miracle. After we were nice and stuffed, we made our way back to our house. After deciding to polar plunge into our neighborhood pool, we booted up the Xbox and spen the rest of the night playing College Football 25.
After we got the notification that campus would remain closed on Wednesday, we finished off the case of beer that had been purchased over the weekend.
What I thought would be a pretty boring way to spend a birthday ended up being one of my favorite memories from my senior year of college. Having Wednesday off as well was the icing on the cake.