I think I can speak on behalf of almost every college student when I say that summer break feels like an eternity. I just landed back in Tallahassee from the longest three months of my life and I can honestly say that being back in "the nasty" has never felt so good. Back in the good ol' days when math homework was a simple 2+2 and English meant tracing letters along the dotted line, summer couldn't come quick enough for us youngsters; summer meant fun in the sun, summer camp, and family vacations. Now, going back home is refreshing, but slightly depressing. Don't get me wrong, it's great getting a break from classes, finally getting a decent amount of sleep, and eating a well balanced meal for once, but it also means leaving our new friends, new lifestyle, and the place we now consider home. There comes a point when Ramen noodles and sleep deprivation sound like heaven, weird right? So, if you aren't already, here are some reasons to get excited to go back to college.
1. Everything Is Cheaper
Skol... need I say more. It honestly doesn't get better than student discounts at all your favorite restaurants because people in your college town actually understand you're #ballingonabudget. A night out for me costs $20 at most, where a night out in real life costs me $15 per drink.
2. Free Giveaways
You're straight up lying to yourself if you say you don't like free giveaways. Walking around the Student Union around 12 p.m. almost always guarantees you a free t-shirt, pen, water bottle, stress ball, or pretty much anything a college student may need but is too lazy to actually go out and buy. Save your money for Clyde's, leave the $50 shirt on the rack, and always take the free stuff.
3. Independence
This is BY FAR the one thing all of us college students have missed and are excited to get back. Freshman, if you haven't experienced this yet, you'll understand when you have to go back to coming home at a reasonable time and worry about whether or not your parents are going to walk in at any given moment and hound you about doing chores, aka the laundry you've been waiting to do until you got home. It is especially hard to go from living by your own schedule for a year and then going back to a curfew and asking your parents for permission to leave the house.
4. Getting Back Into a Routine
I know I spent my summer days wasting away in my bed, binge watching Netflix, and occasionally sitting out to tan in the almost unbearable Texas heat. However, there's no better feeling than getting back to the usual degenerate ways. Within the first week you'll find that you can still rally like it's Summer C and somehow make it to your 9 a.m. with at least some of your dignity left. Getting back into the swing of classes is kind of nice too cause that's what this whole college thing is about right?
5. Football
If your school is centered around football like mine is, fall means the return of tailgates, rivalries, and the joy of watching your team dominate (except if you go to UF). The start of a new season also gives you a good reason to head over to the university bookstore and stock up on all of the new expensive merchandise that just came out... sorry mom and dad!
6. Friends
Out of state students especially understand the pains of leaving for the summer because it usually means you won't be seeing your new best friends for three long, agonizing months. The best part about coming back, however, means that there is guaranteed to be an epic reunion. I no longer have to stress about what to wear because I'm back to having three other closets to choose from, the group chats that died down will flare up again, and Netflix will no longer be one of your many options for your weekend plans.
So, get ready to get back into the full swing of things. However, don't forget to think long and hard about the mistakes you made last year that you swore to yourself you'd never make again. Who am I kidding- it's not like anyone's going to judge you anyway.
