With finals beginning this week, every student at Syracuse University is extremely focused on effectively managing their time to study for upcoming exams, submit any written assignments, to eat and to literally breathe (I wish I was being dramatic when writing this). We are all so overwhelmed with our school work, as well as the excitement to return home and soak in the fact that we have no homework for an entire month, that we forget how much we're actually going to miss SU while we're not here. Here's a list of just some things that we'll miss during winter break.

1. The snow.

OK, so not everybody is a fan of snow... but that doesn't mean that our notorious weather conditions go completely unappreciated! It may take an extra hour to walk to class and even more of an effort to maintain your balance, but going to school in one of the snowiest cities in the U.S. is really fun. Who doesn't have fun making snow angels after walking home from a long night at Club Bird (and yes, that is how we refer to our library) or watching their friends spastically attempt to walk in the snow? As much as we complain about the snow, we secretly enjoy it much more than we say we do.

2. As lame as it is to say, we're going to miss classes.

I know, I know... everybody always voices their hatred for going to class. It's not learning that sucks, but let's just say that waking up at 7 AM and then proceeding your day by listening to monotone lectures while you use all of your willpower to stay awake is not exactly considered to be fun. However, break can get a little boring after awhile, especially if you don't have a job. Going to class allows us to make and see our friends and keeps us preoccupied- all while learning! Everybody at home after 2 weeks of constant sleeping and eating, trying to find something else to do:

3. The Carrier Dome.

The Dome is every SU student's pride and joy. Even though watching sports games on TV or in other stadiums can still be a ton of fun, nothing compares to being in your own stadium where you know that nearly everybody in there bleeds just as much orange as you do.

4. All of our friends.

Since our campus is not too large, it's normal to see people you know on a daily basis. Going a week without seeing your friends here is difficult so a month is even harder. This is how I will most likely be saying bye to all of my friends this week: