Am I begrudging my ability to pursue an education? Heckkk no. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to work hard and learn. I am however quite irritated with the ways textbook companies charge extra for access codes, online homework, and additionally reprint new editions with a word or two changed. The way that most professors use books, I might be lucky to get about $400 back in knowledge. Bitter is an understatement.
My parents and I pay this wonderful university of Virginia Tech tuition each semester, as well as have to cover apartment rent, utilities and food. God bless them for helping me with a lot of the large stuff, but I intend to pay them back every penny. Therefore, shelling out $1100 for textbooks for one stinking semester, which is more than my last 3 semesters combined is not something that floats my boat. That being said, I have been daydreaming about the things that $1100 could have gone to, both responsibly and not so much...
1. A ton of Benny’s pizza.
But really though, who doesn't love them on a Friday after a week of classes, work, and training for a half marathon?
2. Converses.
If you've ever met me, you know that my Converses are my go to treasures. May the good Lord never place a good Converse price in front of me...
3. 2.25 months worth of rent.
Yeah, you heard me textbooks. You are a semi-necessary evil that costs more than the roof over my head for the next two months.
4. 7 months worth of food.
I am pretty simple in what I like to eat, and if I manage how often I do get said Benny's pizza, I could have eaten off of that money for more than half of the 2016-2017 school year.
5. About 500 boxes of mac & cheese.
I might eat 4 boxes of mac & cheese a year, but this still makes me bitter.
6. Running shoes AND sports bras to last me for the next few years.
A great sports bra costs me about $60 and decent running shoes at least $50. I could be promoting my physical well being for quite some time if it wasn't for Mr. Access Code who cost $180 himself...
7. Bunnies.
Not that bunnies are easily calculated (or does my apartment allow them), but they are adorable little love nuggets who will not be afforded for quite some time now.
8. One fourth of next semester's tuition.
Ouch. Just ouch.
9. A panda adoption.
Pandas are adorable. For $55 I could help sponsor one little furry friend, for $1100 I could help 20 pandas. TWENTY FREAKING PANDAS.
10. Bachata lessons.
I would love to go to a weekend long lesson. Let the beautiful Latino culture envelop my dancing desires.
11. Fun books.
With the money I threw into purchasing textbooks for my education, I could have bought a large quantity of books for my leisure. Random knowledge is the best knowledge.
12. A simplistically pleasant vacation.
I would love to just go to a really nice house in the mountains for a few days; or a few days at a beach? If it includes a massage, even better.
13. About 1000 or so packs of glow sticks.
This one would just be great for the sheer fact that glow sticks bring out the child in everyone. Can you just imagine the great joy that you would bring to you and any other individuals involved with 1000 glow sticks? If they were multi-packs from the Dollar Store, well hot damn!
I mean, a girl can dream right?
