When I was looking at a sample Maine Coast Semester schedule, I immediately spotted a block dedicated to the polar plunge at 7 AM every Saturday. At that moment, I decided that I would polar plunge every week.
Our semester arrived late January, and we jumped right into polar plunges. After the first week of classes, waking up before 7 AM to submerge myself in ice water was terrifying. As I laid in bed early Saturday morning, I weighed whether or not I should inflict this pain on myself. My cabin mates, especially my friend Lauren from Maine, encouraged me that the 15 degree temperature was absolutely bathing suit weather. At 7 AM I was shocked to find 20 other strangers who all had this same idea of fun. We arrived at the waterfront in an array of fashionable water clothes including some fuzzy robes and even a blanket poncho. As I saw ice chunks blow past me, I knew it was time to shed the layers. I grabbed a stranger’s hand, and together we splashed into the water. My shoes got stuck in the mud, and I couldn’t move for almost a minute. Covered in mud, I sprinted to the bathrooms through ice and snow. I cannot say that I enjoyed this experience, but I felt proud of myself for showing up.
The next week the science teachers announced that there was an optional polar plunge at the Popham Beach Field Lab. I knew this was the time to mend my fraught relationship with the last polar plunging. When I arrived at the beach I could not wait to jump into the sparkling water. As the lab continued, the sun went down, the tide went out, and the wind picked up. I reluctantly shed my layers. I was dreading the hour-long van ride in my wet bathing suit, but after the frantic pep-talk by my semester mates, we all ran into the water. Shivering we fled to the van skipping and singing.
I continued to participate in the following polar plunges yet I had never dunked my head. In February we went on Backcountry trips. I spent four days skiing with five other students in Katahdin Woods and Waters in Northern Maine. After cross country skiing for ten miles my group was eager to have more type 2 fun (when something is hard in the moment, but fun after!). We convinced our leaders to allow us to have a ¨polar splash,” and obviously we had all packed bathing suits. The outside temperature was not far from 0 degrees fahrenheit, and there were visible chunks of ice in the water. My friend Magnus and I splashed water at each other then quickly went inside. After a minute we dumped buckets on our heads and were soaked. We then went back inside and Magnus was steaming! Even though we were cold all night, I could not imagine a better way to bond with my trip mates.
The day we left for spring break, our semester insisted on a polar plunge. We had a large group including some faculty members. Everyone cheered me on, and I dunked fully for the first time! Despite my shrieking I promise I was having a good time. I announced many times how the water was not cold (it was cold). I decided to run back into the water with my friend Lucinda, and we dunked again. I was beaming at breakfast.
During Spring Break I missed the morning plunges. The first week back my cabin was on farm chores, so we had to tend to the farm and animals at 6:30 every morning. At first I was devastated about not being able to polar plunge. However, I efficiently helped the sheep and sprinted to the waterfront with my bathing suit on. I could not miss a polar plunge.
Every morning after plunging, regardless if I dunked or not, I come to breakfast soaking wet with the biggest smile on my face. My relationship with polar plunging reflects my growth here at Chewonki. Small moments of challenging myself have led me to gain confidence in trying new things and adventuring out of my comfort zone. It makes it easier when I can step into that freezing water with the support of any of the 30 other semester students.
Katharine Weiner
The Brearley School, New York
