Not that being sick is ever a super fun time, but there are some key differences to being sick when you’re in high school versus when you’re in college. Missing a day in high school, even for sickness, is more or less a nice little break from going to class or sports practice, or whatever other obligations you have, and is a great chance to catch up on the latest season of Stranger Things.
Being sick in college is, not to be dramatic or anything but, more or less the end of the world. Read on for the key differences between being sick as a high schooler as opposed to being sick as a college student.
1. In classes where attendance counts, your grade goes from a B to a G.
2. But you have to drag yourself to class anyways, because Group Projectsâ„¢.
In high school, group projects could be postponed a day. When you’re presenting group projects in college, however, you better show up to class to present, even if it means you have to get high on cough syrup first.
3. You can’t afford time/money/exposure to other germs to go to the doctor, so WebMD convinces you that you’re dying.
Maybe it’s just the common cold paired with a sore throat, but maybe it’s strep or tonsillitis or some rare disease that causes your throat to constrict like a boa constrictor.
4. In college, you rely on the Placebo Effect.
When you live at home, chances are Mom probably stocks actual NyQuil. But when you’re in college, you convince yourself that yes, Wal-Mart brand cold medicine will do exactly the same thing even though it doesn’t have the same ingredients.
5. Laying around all day isn’t nearly as satisfying when you’re anxiety stricken over everything you’re missing.
Refer to #1. When you finally do decide to stay in the warm embrace of your bed because you literally cannot force yourself to get up, you’re too completely anxiety stricken over the fact that you’re missing class to really enjoy kicking back and watching cartoons while eating soup and popsicles all day.6. You have no one to take care of you.
Mom isn’t peeking in your room periodically, you probably don’t have a pet to cuddle with, and your friends don’t want to risk exposure to your germs, so you’re isolated to your sickroom, which is easily the worst part of being sick as a college student.