Dear caffeinated bliss,

You have gotten me through hell this past semester. I can’t help but think of all the times we met, 1 a.m. in the library, 6 a.m. in my apartment, 3 p.m. on the long road home. Some people choose not to drink you and point out your bitter taste, or your tendency to cause jitters. But these are all things that I love about you. As a college student, it’s sometimes hard to trust people. You never know their intentions, and there’s always the possibility that they will wrong you. But you have never wronged me.

I have you to rely on to better my mood on those dark, rainy Carolina days. I want to thank you for helping me get an A on that 16-page paper that I procrastinated until that last minute. Without you, that paper would probably only be six pages. You helped me study for the final that I absolutely dreaded, and I even pulled off an A- in the class. Thank you, coffee, for putting a little pep in my step every Thursday night before I went to my internship where I worked with about 50+ kids. My mood was always improved.

Finally, thank you for helping me get out of my soft, cozy bed for my 8 a.m. class -- probably the most agonizing time of the whole semester. On those early mornings, it was you that I counted on the most to get me out of that bed. You’ve only wronged me once when I spilled you all over my computer at night while writing a paper. I was mad at you, and I might have even cursed your name. For this, I apologize, I know that you were only trying to help me. I used to only be a tea drinker, but now that you have opened my eyes to a caffeinated heaven, I don’t think I’ll ever go back.

Whether you come from Port City Java, Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts, or my Keurig, you are valuable. You are so central in the lives of college students, fitting into the palms of hands as they trudge to class after an all-nighter in the library. Enjoying you in the company of good friends, on a date, or with someone you haven’t seen in a while is also a favorite of mine. You help keep the conversation going, and give me an excuse to abandon homework and catch up with loved ones. For that, I am grateful. Here’s to all that you’ve done for me the past semester, and all that you will do for me in the coming semester when classes and paper writing start to get a little more intense. Whether you’re iced, hot, blended, or sweetened, you will always be my favorite simple pleasure.

Yours truly,

An overworked college student