Coming back to school in the spring is quite possibly the most bittersweet moment of the year. You are excited to see all of your friends again, you have spent your fix of time with your family at endless holiday functions and get togethers, and the spring semester beginning means yet another syllabus week. But this start of the semester is nothing like the fall. There are no football games, the weather is nowhere as warm as it is in the Texas summer, and the immense amount of free time on the weekend is something to look forward to at first, but soon becomes a bore. Spice up your weekends this semester!   

Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo 

There is a carnival, there is the rodeo, and there is actually a really good time. Although most TCU students would argue that TCU is indeed not necessarily country, it is always fun to spend a night with a little western fun! Do it for the oversized stuffed animal prizes, or do it for the adorable Instagrams. Plus, Thursday, Jan. 29 is TCU Day and TCU students get in for free to the grounds and get discounted rodeo tickets with their ID.  http://www.fwssr.com    

Fossil Rim 

What’s cooler than a zebra poking its head through your car window? Oh, ya, that would be a giraffe eating out of your sunroof. Fossil Rim is a non-profit wildlife center that allows you to drive your car through the park and have literal face-to-face experiences with various animals.  http://www.fossilrim.org/    

Mavs or Dallas Stars game 

Since football season is over, get your sports fix in Dallas! Tickets are extremely inexpensive and TCU gives students free train tickets. This mean you have a full night of stuff to do for around $20, and you don’t need a DD or a $100 Uber ride. http://www.mavs.com/tickets/single-game-tickets/ and http://stars.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=92473

Paddle board or kayak the Trinity River 

Two words. Spring break. It is extremely easy to get lazy during the semester because of the lack of breaks that we have in the fall. Get outside and do some fun exercise! Get your friends, get your roommates, get your girlfriend or boyfriend -- what a cute date idea! -- or go solo!  http://www.kayakfortworth.com/    

Trampoline park 

#tbt to the countless hours of trampolines as a kid. Who knew jumping on a piece of taut net bound by steel springs could bring such immense joy. I recently went to a trampoline park for the first time since the days of gaucho pants and Heelys and, dang, was it a workout.  So if you want to be s’fun and s’fit then check it out! http://flightdecktrampolinepark.com/flight-deck-tr...    

Attend a concert 

From now until April, Sam Hunt, Chris Brown, Tyga, Josh Abbott Band, Maroon 5, Meghan Trainor, and Hozier will be playing somewhere between TCU and Dallas. So make the whole 40-minute maximum trek to see these artists.  If you are not a fan of any of these artists, then you probably like Nickelback, and you still are in luck because they are playing in DFW, too.   

Baseball Games 

There are so many reasons why baseball games are worth going to: we are really good; there is no standing for four hours in the 110-degree heat on bleachers; it’s free! 

Here’s the schedule: http://www.gofrogs.com/sports/m-basebl/sched/tcu-m...