Students trade cold winters for sunshine, well-being

By Rachel Jones

There is a reason so many students from the Northeast find themselves at the College of Charleston – the weather.

It makes a difference.

Charleston's warm climate year-round provides students with a completely different experience than they are accustomed to at home.

For students who are used to long, cold winters, Charleston offers more opportunities to spend time outside and take advantage of the city all year long.

Trading cold and gray for warm and sunny is a no-brainer for just about anyone, especially college students.

In fact, many students from the Northeast note the temperature, the city life, and the beach as their reasons for choosing to go to school here.

But that decision is about more than just the fun things to do in warmer weather.

It can be as simple as feeling like you’re in a better mood.

More than just sunshine

For senior communication major Kaelyn Doherty, the weather played a big part in leaving Philadelphia for Charleston because of its effect on her mental health.  

She admits to struggling when the seasons turn colder, so being able to be outside more months in the winter “just helps overall.”

“I would just say I’m a lot happier,” Doherty said, further explaining that she feels  “a lot better”  when she is in Charleston than at home. “My mood is very dependent on how much sunlight I get.”

The National Institute of Mental Health discusses Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as SAD, which highlights seasonal changes and their effects on overall mood and behavior.

While the students interviewed did not identify themselves as having SAD, many highlighted the noticeable differences they experience with their mood depending on the weather and amount of sunlight they get.

Senior communication major Kira Cribbs also described Charleston's warmer climate as a major contributor  to her overall happiness.

“It’s something that makes me so much happier, and I can’t even imagine leaving it,” Cribbs said.

It’s not that she is unhappy at home, but Cribbs does believe the colder environment makes her feel more restricted.

“Mood-wise, I’m not necessarily less happy in the North,” Cribbs said, adding she feels like she is  more “in a box” in the Northeast. “The sun is shining more than it is in Jersey, so I just feel overall happier.” 

Mary, a senior business administration major from upstate New York described her change in mood after moving here as even more significant, especially during the winter months.

“Charleston is so different from my home,” Mary said, even going as far as saying that she is “actually leave my house in the winter.’’

Charleston's environment is something Mary pushes herself to take advantage of, knowing that she won't always be able to utilize the city after she graduates.

“I always feel guilty if I don’t go outside here because I don't want to regret it once I graduate,” Mary said, explaining that her mom always tells her that she is “wasting” her day away if she is not outside.

Mary also discussed the influence that social media has had on her experience, explaining that for her watching so many people be outside and seeing how exactly they utilize the city is a big motivator, it also provides her with many ideas on where to go and what to do.

An active way of life

As the interviewed students' described their change in mood from the change in their environment, they also described that they have become more motivated to move, spend time outside, and exercise.

A 2025 research study that included 131 participants found a connection between increased exposure to natural light and physical activity with an increase in positive moods.

Physical activity for the students interviewed was often correlated to experiencing a more positive Charleston experience, and definitely has helped with their overall wellbeing.

Doherty noted that because Charleston is extremely walkable, she gets around in a completely different way than in her hometown.

“Charleston is a lot more walkable,” Doherty said, explaining that at home she drives

practically everywhere whereas in Charleston she does not even have her car. “It’s really rare that I even need to Uber or use my friend’s car, so I'm definitely a lot more active here.”

Doherty also touches on Charleston's consistent weather and how it makes it easier to walk from place to place because she does not need to plan around dramatic temperature changes throughout the day, compared to the way she does at home.

“Back at home, you’ll wake up and it’s cold, then it gets really, really hot around three or four, and then it drops back down and gets cold again when the sun goes down,” Doherty said, Charleston has allowed her to “definitely walk a lot more.”

Like Doherty, Kyra Cribbs also made the connection between Charleston's environment and her overall increase in activity, especially because she is provided with the opportunity to walk and exercise outdoors.

“I didn’t grow up in a walkable town, but I hate driving,” Cribbs said, while explaining that she has always wanted to live somewhere that is walkable, especially because her hometown required a car to get “pretty much everywhere.”

Cribbs’ preference for living in a walkable city also influences her lifestyle, allowing her to incorporate physical activity into her daily routine and spend more time outdoors.

“I think walking places and being by the beach, swimming and everything, definitely makes me more active,” Cribbs stated.

Cribbs also discussed the activities that she gets to participate in here that she does not get the opportunity to at home.

“I’m always doing random things here that I would never do at home,” Cribbs said, adding, “Like you can always find a spot.”

Charleston's environment and community has also allowed Cribbs to feel more comfortable to do activities on her own because she is constantly seeing other people participating in solo activities.

“People are always doing things here, whether it’s laying in the park, riding bikes, or walking around with their friends,” she said, explaining that seeing so many people outside encourages her to “get up and do something and be outside.”

Sophomore Ben Siegel, an accounting and marketing major from New Jersey, also says coming to Charleston has definitely increased his overall activity level.

“Yeah, I definitely say so,” he said. "I spend more time playing golf, playing pickleball and going to the beach while in Charleston.”

Siegel believes the difference comes from the number of outside activities available, even during cold months.

“The only thing you can do [in New Jersey] is shop," he added.

But it's not just about the activity. It's also about his mental well-being.

"Yeah, I definitely feel happier,” Siegel said.