1. When you've known your future dream job/career since day one:
Police officer. Baker. Farmer. Politician. Singer. Dancer. Actor/Actress. Artist. Shop Owner. Reporter for the news. Nurse. Doctor. There was never a doubt about what you going to do once you finally became this magical thing called an adult.
2. When you found yourself curious about this little thing called college/ First college campus tour:
Like, what is it? There are so many people here. They must really have their lives/themselves put together. Lol, no we don't. It's mostly a combination of a two venti Starbucks and counting down the days until we get a nice long break so we can go home and eat *real* food.
3. Move-In Day:
The long awaited day is finally here. Leaving home to embark on this new journey in life (super cheesy I know but it is the truth). Meeting new people. Figuring out who you really are. Trying new things (aka like international food or taking a random class that captures your interest or going on an epic road trip during spring break or the weekend and exploring.) Your parents are putting a strong front on for you but secretly, they are a nervous wreck, somewhat managing to hold it together on the drive there and holding their emotions until they get the car unloaded and you set up in your dorm. As soon you get checked in and set up, here come all the hugs that could go on for eternity and tears that could fill up a lake or the ocean. You have somehow managed to hold your sanity and are staying strong but secretly those same emotions are there waiting to be released when they leave.
4. First day/week of classes
First day of classes are always easy, you meet your prof., go over the syllabus, introduce yourself to everyone and briefly go over what will be happening in the class for that semester. You dress to the nines even though you won't be in class too long. The first week is without a doubt the easiest. You even have a steady nightly routine and make it to bed early.
5. When you start to get into the full swing of the semester and have successfully mastered the art of rushing:
Long gone and forgotten are the nights when you got to bed at normal, decent time. You find yourself wide awake at two or three a.m. still working on papers and cramming for tests. What was once a nice and well put together room has now become a mess with papers scattered about the desk and floor. You set at least 7 alarms to ensure you wake up for your classes the next day. You no longer care about what food you eat or when because at 1:39a.m. McDonald's sounds like a five-course meal. You also find yourself able to get ready and make it to your classes within the span of 5 to 15 minutes before they actually start.
6. When you and your roommate (or housemates) become bff's:
No one understands you best than the person you're living with. Getting up early. Dealing with classes. Late night study sessions. Crazy drama. Good days and bad days. They're there to console you during a breakup or when things with bae didn't work out with a pint of Ben & Jerry in your favorite flavor of course. Indulge in retail therapy. And come October, watch all the horror film marathons and figure out what costumes to wear. Basically, the sibling you never had.
7. When you get paired with a random classmate/group for a project and totally wing the entire presentation :
Group Text? What group text? Meet at the library? Nah. Just do your portion of the work and send your information to the leader and everyone knows who says what and where at? Basically. Earn a perfect score? Is that even a question?--Obvi, aced it with icing on the cake, yo!
8. When you pass a test you were pretty sure you had bombed :
The most frustrating feeling of being a college student. Especially if that class is on Thursday and your prof decides to wait until Monday to post grades or hand back the exam so you can "FINALLY* see your grade. You more than likely spent 98% of your free time/weekend freaking out over this when in reality you had nothing to worry about.
9. Being able to get from Point A to Point B without requiring the help or assistance from Google Maps or Siri:
You know where to find everything at and the best, fastest route to get there. Whether it be a class, your advisors' or a professors' office, the stores and restaurants at. You also know the best time to get to each destination every day of the week. And you also know the best and quickest route(s) to get you home when need be.
10. Financial Aid:
The most difficult and toughest parts about college. From FASFA, to student loans, scholarships, work-study, tuition. Before the semester is over, nearly everyone in that office will know you by heart.
11. When you get a test and a good amount of what is on the test hasn't even been discussed in class or was mentioned on the study guide even though you thoroughly read through every bit of it and your notes with chapters from each section in your book(s):
It could be a two-page study guide or it could be a five-page study guide but I can promise you this was never mentioned on it --NOR-- was it ever brought up in class. How can you expect me to pass a test over material that I know absolutely nothing about? Time to say a prayer or two. Maybe twenty-five just to be safe.
12. MidTerms Week:
Almost as bad finals week but not nearly as soul-crushing,
13. F I N A L S W E E K:
Forget sleep. More than likely are solely running on unrequited, vasts amounts of coffee. You find yourself constantly asking yourself if coming to college is truly worth it. You'll set somewhere between twenty-one to seventy-eight alarms ensuring you don't oversleep, even by a second. Leggings/yoga pants and sweatshirts, messy buns or ponytails and a swipe of lip balm have become your go-to look. There are about 102 unread texts on your phone. 58 missed calls. You feel like death even though you know that actual death feels much worse.
14. When you finally get that sweet, glorious break:
Time to finally catch up on all those naps and on the sleep you've been missing out on. In a much more comfortable bed. Away from the chaos that is college life. It could be a week, a few days, a month/months, or just the weekend but it doesn't matter because you get to rest finally.
15. Scheduling classes:
So I have to take how many classes? Well law and justice at 8a.m. I should probably set my alarm for 7:15 so that way I have time to get up and get ready maybe grab some breakfast and coffee. My next class isn't until 11 on that day so I can get a nice solid nap or two in. You know, this might just work.
16. The Monday through Thursday feels til it's finally FRI-YAY!:
Monday, what fresh hell is this? It was just Friday 2.5 seconds ago. Why does this always happen? Tuesday, alrighty this day is less of a mess than yesterday plus Tuesdays are my lucky day and everything is so easy-going. Wednesday, middle of the week. Halfway there, livin' on a prayer that I can make it one more long day til I don't have the stresses and burdens of setting my alarm clock and making myself decent for the campus population. Thursday, what feels like the absolute longest day in history. Come on, get on Wednesday's speed level and move it man. What're ya doin'?! I've seen a snail move faster than this day. FRI-YAY IS FINALLY HERE Y'ALL! Let's celebrate surviving another long week by all collectively taking naps that last all weekend long and not worrying about anything else. 11,000 people voting a dead gorilla for pres? Not my prob.
17. When you find a bae:
Aside from the attractiveness that comes with seeing them wanting to continue their education and their plans for their future but when you two actually have things in common. Like Marvel/DC films or Harry Potter, perhaps even somewhat similar taste in music -- they know all the words to "Heathens" by Twenty One Pilots? Yaaaaaaaaas. Maybe you both even enjoy the same kinds of sports and root for the same teams (or maybe have alternate taste in teams). Either way, you feel like you've just hit the jackpot with your bae.
18. When you get in the car with someone else and they drive like a NASCAR driver or in the Fast & Furious films:
*Says a silent prayer entire car ride and kisses the ground once out at the destination. Immediately starts another prayer once back in the car and kisses the ground once again when back at campus safe and sound*
19. Eating in the caf:
So..it isn't the greatest food in the world --depending on the day-- but nonetheless, it is food and besides after day five of ramen and mac&cheese, the caf is better than nothing.
20. When you go off campus to shop, eat, etc..
"Here take my money! I don't need it anyways! Just please don't do any *major* damage to my bank account."
21. When people ask you how you feel, how do you like college, and so forth...
Happy. Sad. Confused. Somewhat lonely. Terrified. Angry. Hangry. Exhausted. Oh, I love it there but I also love sleep and not constantly looking like a hot mess and feeling like the weight of the world is on my shoulders but I'm managing everything just fine and dandy.
When people tell you they're proud of you:
22. When class(es) get canceled:
Or an exam gets canceled/pushed back. Or some other random reason. I ain't complaining. THat gives me an extra day to get caught up on other things*
*Other things=naps
23. When you go on an adventure with your friends and end up in scary situation:
So you made the late night Walmart run and then decide to find a Redbox to rent the latest Captain America film but low and behold, Mickey D's doesn't have it so you ask Siri for help and where does Siri guide you and your friends? To the sketchiest part of town to where so-said Redbox is located. You later learn that there was a Redbox at another location right across from Walmart and on the much more SAFER part of town. Siri, what're ya doin?! We'd like to survive college and actually make it graduation, pls and thank you very much.
24. When you got those fantastic, life-changing profs:
Whether it was a prof you took for a class that went with your major(s) or just one you took one for gen eds or simply because their course interested you and others told you take so-said prof., they made an impact on you, not just as a student in their classroom but as a person as well. Whether it was the way they taught or the fact they allowed you to open up in class and feel safe about doing so. It felt as if someone finally understood what you, and more than likely, many other students on campus are/were going through. To these many professors, we, your former/current students, would like to take a moment and say thank you for inspiring us, for understanding us, for being there for us when we felt like no one else understood what we struggle with and not making us feel weird or an outcast. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
And finally...
25. When it's finally *SENIOR YEAR* :
Graduation. You've had just about every prof on campus and know this place like the back of your hand. You're more than ready to leave but also don't want to adult and the struggles of entering the real world terrify you like a freshman on their first day. Nonetheless, you own the campus.
