Things have changed since your first year of school. The idea of moving to and from the dorms has become an old concept. The novelty of it all has completely been removed. You no longer make the long trip back to school a big deal. You stop bringing both of your parents along at the beginning and end of each semester and when you do, you don't waste any time taking pictures at popular landmarks. The road lined with gold has become tainted and worn. You're officially an upperclassman. Your feet have hit the ground and you have arrived to the reality of life that you never imagined as a freshman. Here are twelve identifiers of an upper-class student:
1. It's the first week of August and by the state of your room, you still haven't finished unpacking from your most summer vacation. Pandemonium is a sign that you're at least trying. Note the cover photo and then get off Instagram.
2. You've already forgotten the names of the courses you've enrolled in for fall quarter or semester. You'll figure it out before the first day of school (i.e. at 11:00pm the night before).
3. Signing into your school account hurts your head, heart, and bank account. It's been hovering over you since you stepped out of your last class of spring semester, but as my mom always said, if anything is so important, you'll get a call. And historically, moms have never been wrong.
4. "School shopping" doesn't exist for you. Any formal school shopping sales you usually miss because who shops for supplies in July?
5. You try and fail to convince your parents that you'll eat Top Ramen for an entire year before cooking right. Unless they're doing the shopping, that is. Instead, you ask them to go to Costco and buy you a ginormous box of Cheez-Its that will last you a weekend. A day if you decide to share.
6. You're not even out of your parents' house yet and already, you know that they were right about everything.
7.You stop picking out new "back-to-school" outfits. A month or so into school, you realized that the main person who cares if you wear the same shirt more than once in a week is you. Yoga pants it is!
8. I have to start making my own coffee, and if you're like me, that intimidates you. Until you're actually out of the comforts of your own home, you're not gonna put too much effort into figuring that puzzle out. My *limited* personal experience has let me down numerous times. Can't seem to find out the secret to how mom makes it so strong.
9. So, you are out of the dorms. You arrive to find that the house you're moving into has a great deal on rent because it's completely unfurnished. Now, you're a new renter who has never bought a couch or a bed or potentially needed pots and pans because for the first time in your life you'll have to cook your own meals.
10. You need books but haven't quite gathered the courage to tally the cost yet.
11. Forget the neighbors, you aren't finished meeting your roommates.
12. School? Oh, right. College has become so routine that sometimes you forget you're there to go to school.
I know you all too well because I've been there on more than one occasion. I'm finally learning slowly but surely to accept the help of others. That's why I'm helping you out in the first place. Even if you do think you have it all together, There's nothing wrong with being prepared. Don't bother digging your own grave. Let me tell you, it's not worth it.
