The only word that can make a college student happy besides free and food? Dogs! Ah, yes, our faithful, four-legged friends. They've seen you at your worst and yet, they still love you. They're adorable, loving, and perfect to rant to because, well, they can't talk back. All my life I've grown up with dogs, and over the years they've taught me some pretty valuable life lessons. Here are the five lessons I've been taught by my wonderful companions. (Thanks Sheba, Copper, Sadie, Percy, and Cutie.)

1. Always Chase That Ball

Metaphorically, I suppose. Have you ever seen a dog play fetch? It will continuously keep coming back for more. So, be like your dog. Constantly keep coming back with the determination to finally get that ball. Dogs are very resilient creatures. They never seem to tire out, and that's a great characteristic to have in life. So keep chasing that ball (or is some cases your tail), because at some point you'll find that it was all worth it in the end.

2. Show Unwavering Love

It's extremely impressive how much your dog can love you. I may have failed my final exam, gained 10 pounds, or binge-watched ANTM for 14 hours straight but at the end of the day, my dog still loves me. When I come home from college, the first thing I see run out of the house is my dog. His tail is wagging so hard that it may break, and his whining is incomprehensible, but if you listen to it hard enough you can hear "I love you." Man's best friend is truly incapable of showing hatred, and I'm certain that if more people acted like their dogs, the world would be a much better place.

3. Sleep Is Very Important

As a college student, my mind tends to run hundreds of miles per minute. Sometimes it's okay to just set aside your busy schedule and take a nap. My dog emphasizes this idea perfectly. The only time he isn't sleeping, he is eating. Take some advice from your pup and go to bed!

4. Enjoy the Ride

When is the last time you sat back, relaxed, and just had some fun? Dogs can make even the most monotonous activities, such as driving, fun. Dogs have their heads out the windows with the biggest look of satisfaction. Why aren't we like that? Why are we always so uptight? Let's take a step back and realize that life is too short not to enjoy the ride.

5. Stop Holding Grudges

I cannot count how many times I've accidentally stepped on my dogs paws and as he ran away out of fear, I was terrified he wouldn't come back. Yet, he always did. He didn't stop letting me pet him or stop giving me kisses, instead he saw past my mistake and loved me. Humans are peculiar in the way that they remember others' mistakes. We tend to hold other people's pasts over their heads for months or even years. So take a pointer from your dog and forgive and forget.

I know what you dog lovers are thinking: "I so only came here for the videos of cute dogs," and as much as I can relate to that statement, I hope you've realized just how much our dogs can influence us. For us, they are in our lives for only a little. But for them, we are their entire lives. Next time you see your dog, make sure to remind them how much they mean to you.

Thank you for all of the inspiration, Percy James

6/3/05 - 10/15/15