Kansas State is a beautiful wonderful place. It is a special place where, if you're lucky, you will get to spend 2-10 years of your life enjoying the purple haven. There will most certainly be things you will miss about college and Kansas State when you graduate, on the flip of that there are certainly things you will not miss.
So, here is one alum's comprehensive list of things you will miss and things you will not:
1. You will miss the tiny delicious food/coffee spots
Taco Lucha, The Chief, Bluestem, Radina's, Arrow, need I go on? Man, the food, and coffee in Manhattan are so underrated and beautiful. I dream of Taco Lucha's banana margaritas, see we have a lot of options up in Kansas City, but none of the options come close to that delicious marg.
2. You won't miss having to eat Ramen Noodles or cold pizza every night because you're so poor
You don't always get to indulge in the incredible food though, most of the time you're too poor to eat a full meal or drink good coffee, so you're stuck with the dried Ramen Noodles. It must be an only college time thing because as soon as you get done the idea of Ramen becomes repulsive to you. Good news though, you will still be able to eat cold pizza, because honestly, that is really good.
3. You will miss taking naps in the middle of the day
There is nothing better than laying down for a nap at 1 in the afternoon and waking up at 5. I would give anything to take a nap at my job, but I don't think my boss would take too kindly to me rolling a bed into my office.
4. You won't miss staying up ungodly hours of the night
The flip side to you taking a four-hour nap is now you have to stay up until 3 in the morning to write some stupid paper on math history. Sure, you don't get to take many naps in the real world, but you do get to go to bed at 8 pm. Your boss doesn't come to you and say "hey, love your work, but could you write me a paper on pages 1-50 in your job manual so I can grade you on it?"
5. You will miss Aggieville
Oh, the Ville, where debauchery and fun happens. If you are looking for a chill night you can go to Auntie Maes, drink a beer and talk about life with your friends. If you're looking to have some gross drunk dude hit on you Kaws or Kites is your place. If you want to awkwardly dance with too many sweaty drunk people Tates! So many options in such a small space. Truly a delight.
6. You won't miss gross cheap drinks
Aww yes, the Ville can be so much fun, but you know what isn't fun? Barton's. To this day I cannot drink vodka, because of the cheap drinks. Too many bad memories of ordering a vodka soda, tasting all Barton's and needing to vom. No thanks, I'm good with getting my "expensive" adult drinks thank you.
7. You will miss going to sporting events
Whenever I watch K-State games on TV I just remember all the fun times of Wabashing, yelling "Eat Em' Up, Beat Em' Up, KSU" and being in a sea of well informed purple. Honestly, there is nothing better than the student section on game day. The students understand the perspective sport better than the 12 ref's do, we scream, we cheer, we boo, it is a magical time.
8. You won't miss standing the whole freaking time
Like...why do we do this to ourselves? By the end of a football or basketball game, your entire body hurts, because you spend 2-3 hours standing on metal bleachers packed in with other people surrounding you so all you can do is just stand straight up and still.
It sucks, and that's not just coming from an old person whose back hurts 24/7. It hurts everyone you just don't want to admit it. 10/10 would recommend sitting for some of the game.
9. You will miss Fake Patties Day
(Yes that's me on the right, yes I look like burnt toast.)
So fun, so crazy, so many people packed in such a small area. You have friends from middle school contacting you on Facebook asking to stay at your place, but you allow it, because of the spirit of FPD. Start drinking at 7 am, take a nap at 12 pm, then start all over again. It's such a crazy day, but I'm not going to lie it's a fun time.
10. You won't miss Fake Patties Day
Waking up at 7 am to drink PBR and eat cold scrambled eggs at Johnny Kaws. Hanging around people who got way too drunk way too early. Trying to make it back to your place to get away from the crazies, but it takes a long time because everything is packed and crazy.
By the time you get home you totally forgot that Debbie from 7th grade social studies is sleeping in your bed, because you kindly gave that up to her, and you remember that FPD is kind of the worst day ever.
11. You will miss the beautiful campus
K-State has the prettiest campus in Kansas. Don't lie to yourself KU, you know I'm right. Literally every building looks like it should be in Hogwarts- except Bluemont which was meant for KU's campus so case closed- and you can't help but feel studious when you look at the architecture. Honestly taking in the campus is the best part of walking to class.
12. You won't miss walking in snow, sleet, rain, freezing cold or hell hot to go to class
The worst part of walking to class is Kansas weather. It's like Kansas just wants to spite students who have to walk outside to go to class. One second it could be beautiful and warm, then the next it is freezing and rain is smacking you in the face.
The only nice time Kansas allows is a month in the fall and a month in the spring. Other than that it's hotter than hell or colder than Taylor Swift's Bad Blood video.
13. You won't miss shitty college houses
Fortunately, I never had to live in one of those "houses," but I know second hand how sketchy they can be. Some have bat problems, some have stained walls and carpet, while others are literally falling apart. No one can really complain though because rent is $50 and all you want is to have your own space. So... college houses it is.
14. You will miss all of your friends being so close together
While college isn't the best years of your life, the friends you make are some of the greatest you will ever have. Now all of my friends are spread around the country, two in Utah, some still in Manhattan, some in Wichita and some in Topeka.
It can be hard to keep up with everyone you love so dearly. That is the biggest thing you will miss being in Manhattan, Kansas, because truly the friends you make there are so special.