At Ursinus, we're pretty spoiled. We have a beautiful campus, tight-knit community, amazing professors and yes, some really awesome parties. We all know we're incredibly lucky to call this place home for four years, and when we all eventually graduate, there are so many things about it that we'll miss. Mostly, we're just a little bit nervous that Ursinus, and all of the great pieces of everyday life, have totally ruined us for everything that comes afterward.
1. Walking anywhere more than five minutes away becomes an enormous chore.
Are you really saying there's no one who can drive to Wawa? Ten minutes of walking just to get there is an eternity. An eternity. Frankly, you're not quite sure how you're going to survive learning to commute after graduation.
2. When you go somewhere where you don't know everyone, something just doesn't quite feel right.
You might not know the name, major and usual Lower order of every student on campus, but you have gained a sixth sense for who's familiar and who's not. When you go somewhere away from Ursinus and slowly realize you shouldn't know every face in the crowd on some level, you feel more than a little lost. Don't worry, it's normal.
3. You expect every party to have plenty of free booze.
And if there isn't anything out, you know your friend living in the house or suite hosting the party will gladly offer you a drink. When that magical 21st birthday rolls around, and you're able to actually buy yourself legal drinks, it's not quite the magical Wonderland you'd hoped it would be — mostly because it involves actually paying for alcohol. Blasphemy.
4. You're used to having your friends around. All. The. Time.
You live together, eat together, study together and go to every single Pinterest night, Bearitones and B'nats concert and party together. Even if they don't happen to be next to you right this very second, they're never more than a text and five minutes away.
5. You've learned to trust people — maybe just a little too much.
By this point, you're pretty sure you could leave a Lamborghini in the library for hours on end and not have to worry about anyone stealing it. And even if it did happen to go missing, there's a 95 percent chance it would end up at Campus Safety anyway.
6. Going out doesn't necessarily have to mean "going out."
Even if you don't live in the suite or house throwing the party, it's never far enough away to warrant an excuse for not going out. The idea of having to take turns at being DD or spending money on an Uber to get to a party is a totally foreign concept. So go ahead and leave the jacket at home, because no matter how cold it is outside, you'll be sweating it out on the dance floor before you even feel the temperature.
7. You never have to worry about eating a meal alone.
Walking into Wismer is a virtual guarantee that you will have someone to eat with. Whether you're craving a Lower burrito or jonesing for an Oreo blondie (OK, let's be honest, three Oreo blondies), eating by yourself just isn't something you'll ever need to worry about.
8. Because your professors know you, they tend to be pretty understanding about deadlines — well, usually.
We've all had semesters when we got behind and couldn't catch up, resulting in a cascade of being late on deadlines. Thankfully, that magic email begging for an extension on your next essay is pretty much always met with a totally understanding "yes."
9. As much as we complain about Wismer, it's not half bad for college food — and it's definitely better than cooking for yourself all the time.
The truth is even though it all starts to taste the same after awhile, we don't actually mind that much. Wismer does have some pretty great moments (ahem, taco night), and taking 20 minutes to grab something in Upper is always faster and easier than making it yourself. When you're a student perpetually under a deadline, Wismer is pretty much the best.
10. Because you don't have to pay for your gym membership, there's a possibility you might actually exercise.
OK, so you know it's probably somewhere in your tuition, but you're not shelling out cold hard cash from your bank account for just the gym. Either way, you have guaranteed access to a place with weights and treadmills. It also helps that it's practically at the center of campus, because what's the point of going to the gym if you have to walk aways to get there, too?
11. Even when things get difficult, Ursinus is always where you want to be.
If you're having a bad day, a bad week or going through a serious rough patch, you know that someone will be up for a spontaneous trip to Wawa, to lend an ear or just be there. Being a community is what Ursinus is best at, and you are so glad that you get to call it home.
