With the semester coming to a chaotic and sudden close, it’s hard enough to find time to say final goodbyes to closest friends, let alone anyone else. With finals, packing, and preparing for summer, everything seems to be happening at once and this week is overwhelming and exhausting and we finally start to realize how little time we have left in this crazy place with these special people.
While procrastinating studying today, I started to think about all the things and people I’m going to miss this summer (awful professors and stressful classes aside), and realized there are a few people who I forgot to say goodbye to who helped get me through day to day life these past few months. These are the neighbors, classmates, and even a few complete strangers who we see almost daily, but forget to say goodbye and thank you to on our way out. They are:
1. Your classmates: What would you do without the other students in your major going through the exact same class experiences as you? They are the only ones who truly understand how impossible that test was, how unfair it was to have 4 assignments, 2 presentations, and an exam in the same week, and what a waste of time going to that one lecture was. You can always count on them to share notes you missed, remind you when things are due, and of course complain about professors.
2. Your barista: They brighten your day simply by existing and supply you with a constant supply of caffeine, which almost classifies them as your friend right? You couldn’t be more thankful when they get you your caffeine fix quick enough to make it class on time and without messing up your order. Even more so if they remember your order. The people who make your coffee are by far some of the most unappreciated.
3. Your neighbors: Whether you are halfway through cooking something and are missing a final ingredient, or just need someone to vent to when none of your housemates are home, someone in your hallway or on your street is around. You’ll even miss the ones you didn’t know as well, and only actually talked to when you ended up at the same parties and recognized each other. You got so used to seeing familiar faces around, even if it just consisted of a quick wave or casual small talk, and will always be bonded by your equal annoyance toward either Narragansett police or your RA.
4. Superhero Strangers: These are the people who came out of nowhere and made or saved your day on more than one occasion. The guy who held the door for you when you had too much to carry, the girl who had an extra pencil 1 minute before the start of an exam, and the people who chased you down the street when they noticed something fall out of your bag. These people have restored your faith in humanity and remind you that there are still a few decent people out there. Even if all they do is smile at you in the middle of a rough day, you appreciate their existence and are thankful they happened to be around when you needed a hand regardless of if you actually know them or not.
5. THAT GUY: We all have that one guy or girl who just happens to be EVERYWHERE. You see them walking to class, at the store, or eating in the dining hall and are convinced they might be stalking you, which is hilarious considering you don’t even know their name. You have never actually talked to them, but are pretty sure you have an unspoken acknowledgement of this crazy phenomenon. You’re going to miss running into them all the time, whoever they are...
Each of these people brightened your days here without either of you noticing it, and now it’s time to say goodbye to the people you have hardly ever said hello to. You have no idea when or if you’ll ever see any of them but again, but you are thankful for all of the acquaintances and strangers that helped you survive this insane semesters and will surprisingly miss them this summer.
