1. IT’S JAN 2!

That means you have to be there before January 2nd; meaning having to fly January 1st, or earlier. I almost missed my flight! I accidentally got carried away the night before and lost my wallet. My wallet!!! I lost my drivers license, debit/credit cards, Ventra, and Core Power membership card! The only reason I got through TSA was because I had my passport as a form of identification. Not only did I lose my wallet right before my flight, I noticed it while I was at the airport. I was still wearing heels from the night before and had to run through the airport looking like trash. You see RSW is a small airport and the population average age in South West Florida is above 70 years old. There is a 90% chance your grandparents saw me that day. I got to TSA and by then I was sobbing, as I am on the phone with Alicat, and she is telling me that I was going to have to ask people to cut them. If you know me, you know how much anxiety I get from talking to people; I only asked about four people to cut them before I had a mental breakdown at the TSA line. But all was good, because I only remember parts of it, and I made it back to Chicago kind of okay. I mean, most people don’t really go through that, but this is the worse that can happen, so it’s all right.

2. 11 Weeks, Am I Right?

That’s it. Midterms are within a month of starting the class. If you miss one class you are screwed. But on the bright side, if you have a crappy professor it is only for 11 weeks.

3. 6 Weeks Off for Winter Break!

Enough time to visit all your family...but family means interrogations. I had to say the same thing to 20 different family members, I might as well have written a speech. For the more responsible students, this means less travel more working. It was so much time off that when I came back, I almost forgot what my roommate looked like.

4. Most of Your Friends From Home Are Still On Break

When you are home, most of your friends are on semesters, so they have no idea what you are talking about, let alone can imagine what this lifestyle is. Everything goes by so fast. But worse, although you have a longer break than they do (by four whole weeks!) you still get a little jealous when they start school a week later than you in the Fall.

5. Three Midterms and Three Finals

In one school year you take three midterms and three finals. That is two more evaluations than the average student, and the panic is real.

6. No Classes on Friday, Unless Your Major Requires It

This is a struggle because your week basically ends on Thursday, so having a three day weekend every weekend is dangerous! It leaves room for a lot of bad choices, and is hard to get used to at first. But it also means that on public holidays you have a four day weekend, and if you’re near an international airport, flight tickets are affordable.