With the cold weather setting in, students from California — known as the Golden State — are seeing the fall colors change for the first time. 

“When I saw all the leaves change colors and all of them falling it was almost like a fairy tale to me,” freshman Hailey Corona said.  “You just don’t get that in California.”

Corona, who is from Southern California, has experienced temperatures around 116 degrees, but has never been in a climate where cooler weather begins in September. 

“It doesn’t get cold until the holidays,” she said. “That makes me a little sad because I feel like I should be home with my family since it is cold.” 

Although Southern Californians are often surrounded by palm trees, according to Corona, the warmer fall weather does not stifle traditions. 

“When it gets to the colder seasons people in California try to act like it’s super cold,” she said. “All of my friends are obsessed with the fall aesthetic.” 

Freshman Bruno Gigliotti, who is from Pasadena, California, said many Californians hold the same fall traditions as Midwesterners. 

“People have the same traditions — there are still pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and people do love pumpkin spice,” he said. “Even in California, you can wear a flannel, just not with a jacket.”  

Although the colder weather has been an adjustment, Gigliotti said his favorite aspects of fall are the leaves changing and new additions to his wardrobe. 

“I like how it’s sweater weather,” he said. “You can wear outfits with a sweater that looks better, in my opinion, and also, I really like the colors on the trees.” 

Junior Analise Hess, who lives outside of San Diego, is in her third Midwestern fall. Hess said that with her experience, she notices how much the weather affects people’s moods throughout the year. 

“Everyone in California is very laid back and chill, and I think that’s because we have such great vitamin D exposure,” she said. “Here, I feel like everyone is trauma-bonded because of how cold and miserable it is.”

According to Hess, Midwestern friendliness is a product of the extreme seasonal weather changes.  

“I think everyone is friendlier to each other, because they kind of have to rally around each other when it gets a little bit dark and depressing,” she said. 

For Corona, the weather changes have made noticeable impacts on her as it has gotten colder and darker. 

“I kind of always thought seasonal depression was a little bit of an excuse, because I never experience cold coming from California,” she said. “But my mood has changed rapidly since fall started and it is getting cold outside.” 

Although the weather begins to get dark and cold, the beauty of the leaves makes it worth it, Corona said. 

“I think the trees are just so beautiful, in California we only have palm trees,” she said. “I will sit outside and stare at the trees here sometimes, especially when the sun is shining or the sunrise or sunset because it is so beautiful.”