The University of New Hampshire is a great place to be- there's no doubt about that. It has one of the most beautiful campuses in the country and is full of diversity. Unfortunately, college cannot last forever and will eventually end. Here is a list of things to cherish during your time at UNH and to never take for granted. Graduation will be sooner than you think.
1. Unlimited meal plans.
It only seems appropriate that I start off with this-- All dining halls are a blessing and should be treated as such. If you have an unlimited meal plan, please treasure it. When you are older and only have two swipes left to last you two weeks, you will be missing your meal plan.
2. Dining halls in general.
When you are living off campus or in an apartment and have to buy your own food, cook it, and clean it up-- you will be wishing you were at HoCo, just picking up what you wanted, eating it, and leaving. Dining halls are also a place where you can eat just about anything, any time of the day. Cereal for dinner? Great. Ice cream for breakfast? Even better. It should also be noted that our dining halls have long hours and let us eat just about al day, everyday. Unlike other schools, we don't have to time out when we are going to eat, based on the dining halls hours.
3. Dorms.
If you're in one now, you might think this is silly. You might be sick of being quiet past 10 p.m. and hate that your RA is always telling you to keep it down. Please trust me-- you will miss them once you move out. Not having to pay for your cable or electricity separate and being two doors down from your friends. Not having to buy toilet paper or paper towels is also a big plus that shouldn't be overlooked.
4. Horton 4.
This is the best and the worst classroom on campus. It is always either way too hot or way too cold but it is also a place where you can socialize because it is gigantic. Whether it be with the person next to you or you sneak in one of your friends-- the teacher is most likely not going to notice and you can sit back, relax, and download the lecture slides to your computer.
5) The DUMP (now known as Hannaford's).
When else in your life can you walk to a grocery store and get almost anything, at a reasonable price? You don't need a car to get there and their hours work perfectly for any college student-- open early and close late.
6. Discovery courses.
Though some of them are a pain, others can be fun and an easy A. These courses are designed to help you learn about things outside of your major, so make them count. Take something you never thought you would. Maybe you take theater, art, or sports history. Have fun with it and don't complain. When you are stuck in your 700 level, senior classes, you will be wishing you were back in Intro to Theater and having fun.
7. The bus system.
Whether you have a car or not, the buses are still very helpful. They can bring you to the mall, Portsmouth, or even just around campus. We are so lucky that we have so many buses here. You never have to wait more than five(ish) minutes to catch a bus to class. This is great for in the winter or rain when you want to just be lazy and not walk. Yes, sometimes they are late but at the end of the day-- being three minutes late is a whole lot better than walking from HoCo to the Cottages.
8. Downtown.
Libby's, Scorps, The Knot, convenience stores, breakfast places, DHop, and so much more-- none of these things should be taken for granted. They are all unique to our campus and something that you will be sure to miss once you are gone. Remember-- a JB in the morning, paired with a coffee from either Aroma's or BNG is the perfect start to anyone's day.
9. Your friends.
There will literally never be another time in your life where you are surrounded by so many of your friends. Whether you live with them or near them, you are only a few miles away. So sit on T-Hall lawn a few extra minutes together (even if you're running late), take pictures of the foliage while admiring our school's beauty, and throw snowballs at each other until your hands are frozen.
10. UNH in general.
Our campus is beautiful. This is a fact that nobody can deny. It is also fun and exciting, with plenty of diversity, combined with a homey atmosphere. It is a big university that has nitches for everyone to fit in but is also still small enough and friendly enough that you feel safe and like you are at home here. UNH is a place that you should be proud to say you went to school but it is also a place that you should never take for granted. Remember--everyday is a great day to be a Wildcat!
College is a unique four year experience-- you get to be around friends (and strangers) while studying, socializing, and finding yourself. Please, do not take it for granted. After all, the saying is true, "college flies by..."
