It's that time again – the end of summer, when everyone packs up their clothes and buys textbooks in preparation for the new school year. As much as we will all miss our moms, our dogs, and the money in our bank accounts, it's hard to deny the excitement and anticipation as students prepare to go back to Ithaca College. Here's a few thoughts that most, if not all, Ithaca students have as they're preparing to return to the 607:

1. "I can't wait to be back!"

Because who wouldn't want to be back in one of the most beautiful places with the best people?

2. "Will My RA be chill?"

Pretty standard concern for those on campus, answer is pending.

3. "To all my friends in T-12...See ya never!"

It was nice knowing you, you are good people. Feel free to drive over to Emerson anytime you're not low on gas and want to make the trek. I will have an air mattress at your disposal.

4. "I'm not going to Circle parties. I refuse."

I'm still traumatized from the one time I went and an upperclassman decided to lead my unknowing freshman self on a 2-hour tour around an unfamiliar campus before returning me to a concerned roommate I didn't really know yet. I'll leave those to the incoming freshmen.

5. "How am I going to find the perfect, off-campus house, for next year, by October?"

May the odds be ever if your favor.

6. "I really hope I'm not in class with (insert anyone you've ever mildly embarrassed yourself in front of Thursday-Saturday night)."

Chances are, you will be. At least one person, if not five. You'll learn to accept it and if you don't, just keep your head down.

7. "What's the new 2 Floor going to be like?"

Answer: To Be Determined. Regardless, our loyalties will lie with the original, cause, ya know, that's where the ratchet happened.

8. "I wonder if I'll win trivia this year."

My close 2nd on a less than crowded night in the middle of summer was very satisfying, I won't lie.

9. "How long 'til it snows?"

The answer is sometime in November but you'll be frozen far before then.

10. "Will we win Cortaca?"

Either way, "Win or Lose, we Booze!" Go Bombers!

11. "How long will it take for me to blow my bonus bucks at the Starbucks stands?"

I'm giving myself until mid-semester. That reminds me to talk to my parents about my meal plan...

12. "Do you think they'll have edible food in Campus Center this year?"

Don't get your hopes up. There's always the Pub a few feet away except...

13. "Are the lines in the Pub still going to be 80 minutes long?"

Yes, and...

14.“Am I going to see every upperclassman I know in the Pub when I look like the living dead?”

Absolutely!

15. *For those with a car at school* “Am I ever going to find a parking spot?”

Yea…eventually. Patience will help. The walk from the back of any of the parking lots to the buildings isn’t TERRIBLE.

16. * Having a car at all * “Am I ever going to find a parking spot on Hudson/Prospect/Pleasant/Giles/Any other street on South Hill/Any Parking Garage in the Commons?”

Again…Patience will help.

17. “Maybe the first floor of the Library will have an open table at some point this year.”

PSA: One person does not need a whole table that would fit eight.

18.“But if there’s not, I’m going to have try the 2nd floor…”

Keyword: TRY

19. “The 3rd floor *silent floor* won’t be so bad.”

Let me know how it goes when they “shush” you for sneezing.

20. “I wonder if my friends are going to want to go to Sammy’s or Casablanca.”

Because post bar pizza is basically an essential food group that should be thought over carefully.

21. “I want to spend more time in College Town this year!”

Just try to make Andy Bernard proud if you start frequenting his old alma mater.

22.“Will they actually be strict about swimming in the gorges?”

For the limited time it will be warm enough at the beginning of the year, most likely. Ithaca is also going through a drought, making cliff jumping more dangerous! Jumping is fun, but not if someone dies, so be careful!

23. “Which of my friends is going to go to the hospital this year?”

It's inevitable that someone will end up in Cayuga Heights Medical Center and at some point you will be there to support them (I went once when my roommate was sick and once when I had Pharyngitis). Hopefully you’ll have a best friend that will lay in the hospital bed with you while you wait five hours for the doctor to come to you!

24. “I guess I should start saving change for the TCAT…”

Or saving up for cabs. Or saving for really, REALLY comfortable shoes that will take you the 2-ish miles from the Commons to campus. Or just pray you have very loving off-campus friend with an open couch.

25. “I’m really going to miss _________”

Shout out to all the graduates and transfers that I expect to come visit frequently! You guys rock.