Derian Mowen, senior computer science major
Do you think the weather can reflect how productive you are?
“Absolutely, the weather has a big effect on my productivity as an individual. The cold also makes me want to stay in bed, while nice days make me want to get out.”
Do you think the weather can affect your overall mood?
“Yes, for sure. The gloomy atmosphere dampens the mood.”
During the recent winter cold front, how was your mood affected?
“I was incredibly lazy and wanted to stay in and do nothing.”
Do you prefer cold or warm weather?
“Warm weather, but not too hot.”
How relevant is seasonal depression today?
“Seasonal depression is incredibly relevant as it can greatly limit what you are able to do.”

Veda Atluri, sophomore psychology major
Do you think the weather can reflect how productive you are?
“Yes, it’s way harder to get motivation and stay motivated when it’s either cloudy or cold, especially both.”
Do you think the weather can affect your overall mood?
“Whether it’s sunny or not affects subconsciously the way I view things, like whether I have a positive or negative attitude towards something that I could potentially view positively with the sun out.”
During the recent winter cold front, how was your mood affected?
“I was way less motivated and tried to spend as much time as I could in the sun and would dread the sun going down so early which is always associated with the cold and winter time.”
Do you prefer cold or warm weather?
“Warm weather.”
How relevant is seasonal depression today?
“Extremely relevant. I felt my mood much more uplifted than it would have been if it was cloudy. As soon as I walked out of dorm this morning and immediately felt the sun I felt happier and more motivated.”

Elizabeth Spuskanyuk, sophomore neuroscience major
Do you think the weather can reflect how productive you are?
“Yes the weather definitely influences how productive I am, and it influences my overall mood.”
During the recent winter cold front, how was your mood affected?
“As someone who experiences seasonal depression, my mood has definitely been affected by the recent cold front.”
Do you prefer cold or warm weather?
“I prefer warm weather a lot more. I love spring and summer.”
How relevant is seasonal depression today?
“Seasonal depression is very relevant because there is a clear shift in people’s moods during the winter months. Whenever there’s sunny days in these months, definitely spend as much time as you can outside.”

Nicholas Cipolla, junior chemistry major
Do you think the weather can reflect how productive you are?
“I definitely think that when it’s all rainy and gloomy outside, I really just want to stay in bed and watch a movie or binge-watch a series, and I definitely don’t want to walk to the library and get work done.”
Do you think the weather can affect your overall mood?
“I was fine. I didn’t enjoy being cold, but I feel like overall I don’t think my mood was affected too much.”
Do you prefer cold or warm weather?
“Cold weather.”
How relevant is seasonal depression today?
“I don’t think it’s super noticeable, at least not in/within my group of friends. But I mean, I’m sure it’s not irrelevant.”

Sophie Radi, senior neuroscience major
Do you think the weather can reflect how productive you are?
“Yes, super rainy or super sunny weather makes me more productive than anything otherwise, like cloudy.”
Do you think the weather can affect your overall mood?
“Yes, rain makes me feel relaxed and comforted, sun makes me feel joyful, and cloudy makes me feel gloomy. When the sun sets earlier in the day, I feel less productive because the day feels shorter. This always makes me feel more down than usual, and sparks negative emotions that had been previously swept under the rug. And of course, feeling the discomforts of dry, cold winds takes away from the natural joy that comes with enjoying a stroll through campus or nature alone.”
Do you prefer cold or warm weather?
“I prefer cooler warm weather, around 70 degrees.”
How relevant is seasonal depression today?
“Very relevant, especially with how prevalent mental health awareness is right now and especially in Texas, where seasons are very unpredictable.”