The first week back from winter break is a little like making sandwiches. As a student worker at Kilmer's Market (a local grocery store and deli located on Livingston Plaza), I have developed a very intimate relationship with the cheeses, sauces, and bread over the past semester. From Munster to Pepper Jack cheese, every one of these cheeses has a different flavor and appeal. From Chipotle Mayo to Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue Sauce, every one of these sauces adds a different kick and smoothness. And, from Kaiser rolls to Ciabatta bread, every one of these types of bread has a different texture and dryness. Ultimately, with these combinations, sandwich recipes are made. Yet, some sandwiches are definitely more appetizing than others. And, some are your favorites.

Taste is subjective to the individual. Although Chipotle Mayo is a crowd favorite, customers sometimes come in and ask for something as obscure (and kinda disgusting) as Thousand Island dressing on their sandwich. However, it is ultimately up to the customer to design their sandwich down to the last crumb. And, if the components (bread, condiments, filling) are different aspects of college like classes, extracurriculars, and socializing, you ultimately have the choice of what to put in your own sandwich.

Since every sandwich at Kilmer's Market is $5.75 unless you add more meat for a $1 extra, both a simple and complex sandwich is the same price and on equal footing. One can make a really simple, and still delicious sandwich, with only 3 ingredients. However, theoretically, in order to get your money's worth, one should add as many ingredients (excluding extra meat) as possible. But, you run into the predicament of biting off more than you can chew and potentially choking. Or, if you ordered an ambitious sandwich with everything inside and realize you don't want to eat it, it will go sour.

With the new semester starting and classes, rush week, and job interviews, this week and the upcoming weeks eerily resemble hell. It comes important to reassess what ingredients you want on your sandwich and if you REALLY LIKE that little dollop of Chipotle Mayo. And, if you aren't going to eat your sandwich, don't order it. For me personally, after surviving the first week of classes, having three assignments due next week, RA interviews, and the desire to rush for a fraternity, adding more and more ingredients to my own sandwich makes it seem less and less appetizing.

However, if you are ever having doubts like I am, I want you to think for yourself about the question: "Should I keep putting myself through all this stress?" Nevertheless, when it comes down to it, thinking about the taste of provolone melted on top of a freshly cut tomato and spinach on a bed of turkey and crisp Ciabatta bread, you realize this sandwich is your favorite. You would pay the full $5.75 in cold, hard cash. Then, you know your answer, and it goes a little like when a customer asks: "Can I have my sandwich heated?" The answer is always: "Yes."