Well it's that time of year. The leaves have turned, the shorts are put away and the jeans and sweats are here to stay for the next handful of months. It's a time of change, a time of beauty...and most of all, a time for never wanting to get out of bed because you may be too sick to learn.

Yep, it's cold and flu season! I know, it's great! I should know because I currently have no voice and every time I cough, I feel my head and chest may explode! It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Being sick in high school was simple. You maybe stayed home, or you waited until the weekend to get better, and usually it worked. You mom or dad took your temperature, gave you water, crackers, medicine, and the TV remote for the day. Sometimes we'd pretend to be sick, so we can have a great day like that. Unless you were horribly sick with the flu, or worse, you were usually fine in a couple of days with your parents' help.

Here? You're on your own, so as independent, young adults, we may not handle health really well. Between staying up late, forgetting sweatshirts to go to class, and not eating the healthiest produce, sickness was bound to catch up to us. And when you live with a whole hallway of other independent, young adults, it's only a matter of time before they are sick, the building is sick, and soon, the entire campus is sick.

You know the College Plague is coming to you when:

1. Your roommate starts coughing.

Oh God, it's begun. It's found it's way inside your dorm.

2. Someone else close to you starts coughing.

Suitemate, hallmate, RA, close friend...hide cause it's looking for more victims.

3. You wake up one day, and you just don't feel right.

You're NOT sick. You just don't feel like you; a runny nose, a little light headed. Just drink water? But it's there, waiting for it's time to strike.

4. You haven't really been eating healthy.

Yeah, Dominos may be good but it doesn't mean it's good for you.

5. You go out on a night your body is too tired to function.

Yeah, cause dancing until two in the morning is the best fix for that plague starting to invade your bloodstream.

6. You realized that someone just gave you germs.

Yeah you used their blanket, drank from their water bottle, or they sneezed on you. That small uneasiness you had a day or two ago...well, he has backup germs now. It's all going down!

7. No one is in class.

It's taking everyone! There's nowhere to hide! The campus is infected!

8. You wake up and you are sweating.

It's happening!

9. Then you are coughing.

It's really happening!

10. You go out coughing, and wake up the next day, feeling like the walking dead.

Why'd you do that? You wanted to have fun! Are you having fun now? No! It is now officially happening. The plague has claimed you.

11. You "can't" go to class because you literally need a doctor...but it's across campus.

Yep, you can't go to class and now it's Netflix time, but no one is bringing you medicine or water. You are alone.

12. You never really recover until Christmas Break.

The plague never really leaves. You're still gonna go out and eat bad, but as soon as you are home, and away from the college germs, Mom will be making some good food and making sure you get to bed on time. Your Christmas present will be waking up with no coughs and sniffles ripping you apart! Yay!

And the best part is, you come back all healthy and ready to get back at it. The plague is gone and you feel better than ever!

Then spring allergies start...and it's back to square one...good luck...drink some orange juice.