March is over, and for University of Michigan students, that means we have just begun our last month of the school year. Even still, if you’re one of the unlucky ones that has school until May or June, little tastes of summer start popping up around now that give you hope that warm days and freedom are just within reach. Here’s a list of my favorite signs that summer is just around the bend.

1. Watermelon

Seeing giant boxes of watermelon outside of the grocery store is always the first sign that Summer is coming. I have only the best memories of watermelon eating contests in elementary school or cutting a watermelon in half on a hot summer day and just scooping out chunks with a spoon.

2. Shops begin to open

A lot of stores close for the winter especially places like ice cream shops or farmers markets. Seeing storefronts flip their signs to open and set up shop gives me a lot of hope.

3. Walking with your hands out of your pockets

Having the ability to walk around outside without fear that your fingers are going to get frostbite if you send a quick text to a friend is a blessing I truly underestimated.

4. Walking outside with wet hair

Piggybacking off of the last point, the joy that is air drying your hair becomes an actual option as the weather gets warmer. Summer means literally never having to use a blow dryer.

5. Corn

If you’ve spent any time in the midwest you know that corn is a big deal here. In the fall and winter months, the cornfields are cut down and have a certain eerie sad feeling to them. You know it’s summer when the corn fields are growing back and blowing in the wind.

6. Remembering the existence of the sun

Wow. There it is. The thing you’ve been missing for the past 5 months. The most beautiful sight in the world, the telltale sign that Summer is coming. So wonderful it hurts to look at. The sun is out.