Leaves are falling, temperatures are dropping, and excitement for the holiday season is buzzing in the air. If fall isn't already your favorite season, I'm about to try and change your mind. There are infinite reasons why you should love fall, but I'll control myself and stick with telling you about only 12 of them.

1. The clothes

Let's be honest: does anyone actually enjoy wearing jean shorts? I highly doubt it. Fall is when you can break out the leggings, the riding boots, the cuddly sweaters and the scarves. I'm getting chills of excitement just thinking about it.

2. Halloween, duh

Anyone who says they don't like Halloween is simply a Debbie Downer. Literally, Halloween is one day a year where you can be anything you want to be and then casually resume your regular life the next day. There are costumes, makeup and teased hair. What's not to like? Don't even get me started on the awesome Halloween movies that come on TV.

3. It becomes almost socially acceptable to listen to Christmas music

If it were up to me, we would all listen to Christmas music year round. It's cheerful, fun to sing along to, and all my roommates all want to kill me for playing it so much. Nonetheless, once the temperature starts dropping, I start breaking out the Mariah Carey and the NSYNC Special Edition Christmas CD. (Love you, JT.)

4. Everything gets cozier

No one wants to lounge around with candles lit and blankets swaddling them when it's 95 degrees out. Once fall hits, it becomes time to break out the cinnamon candles and faux-fur blankets to settle in on the couch. Let's also not forget that there is no better season to cuddle up with a significant other and watch a movie. (Or, as the kids are calling it these days, "Netflix and chill.")

5. Leaves start falling and changing colors

Get it? "Fall"-ing. The crunch of leaves under your feet and the crisp air on your walk to class is much, much different than the heat and the back sweat you experienced walking to class in the summer. Don't deny it, it happens to the best of us. Thankfully, now you can enjoy the multicolored trees and purposefully jump on the crunchiest-looking leaves while enjoying your leisurely walk to Econ 101.

6. Pumpkin Spice everything

People love to hate on the Starbucks PSL... But why? Have you never had one? You poor thing. Pumpkin spice anything is always amazing. On the first day of October, my hall-mates and I baked pumpkin spice chocolate chip cookies. Not to brag, but they were a huge hit.

7. Pumpkin picking and pumpkin carving

If you've never gone and picked your own pumpkin, you have approximately two and a half weeks to get it done before Halloween. And, like, you really should. Some people even go really crazy and use a knife to carve a picture into the side of said pumpkin. I would recommend it as a good activity for friend bonding, or even a good date idea if you're less single than I am.

8. Fuzzy socks become a thing again

Out of my 500 pairs of socks, I'm gonna have to estimate that at least half of them are fuzzy socks. Underneath riding boots, UGGs, Bean Boots and even Birkenstocks, they're so comfy and so cute. I hate to admit this, but I've actually been caught going to the dining hall wearing fuzzy socks with Hawaiian sandals. Not my proudest moment.

9. You survived at least your first round of midterms

That's right, once fall comes around, you've already survived at least three or four of your midterms for this semester. I mean, yeah, you're gonna have way more. But we just aren't gonna think about that right now, OK?

10. Fair season starts

If you've never been to the North Carolina State Fair, I pity you. Fairs are full of rickety carnival rides, hand holding, cotton candy, hayrides, and most importantly, apple cider. Round up all your best girlfriends and set aside a night to spend at the fair. You won't regret it.

11. Thanksgiving is coming up

Thanksgiving combines all the things that I love most: my family, good Southern cooking, football, and giving thanks for my many blessings. I love everything that Thanksgiving stands for, and I especially love that it gives me an excuse to be sappy and tell my friends and family why I'm so thankful for them.

12. Football season is under way

There's nothing like spending a day tailgating and then cheering on your team in your school's stadium. For the away games and the games of other teams, sitting around the TV yelling with your friends is sufficiently awesome.