My time at Ithaca College is coming to an end entirely too quickly, though I can't say the same for the projects I have to complete in order to graduate. Still, once I get past the hopeless weeping stage of finishing those, I'll be set to graduate. Therefore, I've been making an effort to notice my surroundings. Too often I simply go through the motions of a day, a week, a semester. Now that those motions will have to shift soon, I've compiled this list to remember what I'm going to miss about this place.

1.The Professors

Will I miss their wisdom? Sure. Will I miss their support of their students? Of course. Will I miss their leniency with missed assignments and absences? More than they will ever know.

One class of mine chatted about professors, at Ithaca and in general, while we waited for a professor who was late to class. One guy had a girlfriend at Cornell and told how she always complained about narcissistic professors, or lazy professors who couldn't care less about anything other than correct usage of "couldn't care less." After talking it over, we all agreed that there were very few of those professors at IC. And we all waited for the professor to get the class, even past the expected 15 minutes.

That is true love.

2. The Comedy Scene

There are four comedy organizations at IC: IC Stand-Up, Comedy Club, Acahti and Sketch Club. I think; there might be more. Are other colleges like this, with so many clubs it's hard to even keep track? Are we some far-flung distant descendant of New York's Borscht Belt? Twice a semester there's basically an official comedy week when all the clubs accidentally time their events right next to each other. I'm obviously biased as evidenced by my IC Stand-Up tattoo on my belly button, courtesy of a two foot tall tattoo artist, but I've loved having such a strong comedy community.

3. Natural Lands

Behind the Towers is a small natural lands park. The trail can be walked in under an hour. Getting their requires walking up an incredibly steep hill, so steep a chain railing needs to be there. Regardless, I love having this so close to campus. Any time I need to go for a think-walk to get some ideas or figure out a problem, I'm incredibly close to a serene place.

By being compact, I've been able to use it for what I call "adventures." Basically, I start going for a walk on the trail, then I wander off in some random direction. It borders several different environments -- roads, campus, farms -- that I always feel like I'm taking a condensed journey to someplace new, short enough that I can still get back to campus in time for dinner.

Which reminds me...

4. Campus Dining

Okay, it's not good. I'll never claim that for fear of being ritualistically shamed and permanently exiled by others who have lived through it. But look, it's always there when you need it. On weekdays, you can get campus food from 7 in the morning all the way to midnight. The variety is usually decent if you take into account all the various places to go (if you only eat at one place, it's your own fault). I've never identified with the starving college student cliche because of the dining halls and they deserve appreciation for that.

5. Circles Apartments

I've never lived in the Circles Apartments, but I'm still going to miss them after graduating. Why? Because it's great when 90% of social events, whether parties or open mics or cult gatherings, take place in the same general location. Directions are simple when they basically amount to "walk in a big circle until you find the right number." In addition, they're well built and relatively spacious as far as college living goes, so I've never felt claustrophobic in them. Plus you've got a convenience store dab in the center and that's just swell.

6. Diversity of Interests

Obviously I don't mean racial diversity, which IC still has a ways to go till that's great. But I've loved being in this small liberal arts school with diversely impressive schools. We have a great business school and a great health sciences school and a great music school and a great what-Park-is school. And a kick-ass writing program, don't I know it. I'm glad I attended a school not just with great artsy types, or great number crunchers, but both.

7. Events out the Wazoo

There's always something going on. I've known unfortunate people who went to small schools in rural areas and they often felt that there was little to do besides party and study. Ithaca College always had something going on. If I was bored, all I had to do was walk to one of the campus buildings to try and find an event. Very rarely would I be disappointed. It was like city life in a square mile.

8. Time, People and Place

Ultimately, that's all a college experience really is. I've got no great insight besides this obvious cliche. My college experience comes down to the specific time I lived in a specific place with specific people. If one pays attention, that's all it takes to form remarkable memories. College, for me Ithaca College, is a rare time when remembering this truth is easy, and incredibly fun.

So long, Ithaca College, and thanks for all the fish statue jokes.