Dear Spring Semester,

I’m taking six classes this semester. 18 credits, the max that you can take at my school. This is the first time I’m giving myself a fully loaded semester, and I hope you give me the strength to get through it without losing my sanity. At this point in my college career, I know to expect the hand cramps from writing notes from the quickly changing PowerPoint slides, the long hours staring blankly at a notebook trying to absorb enough information for an impending exam, and the mess and stress that accompanies every group project. But I’m begging you - make sure that I don’t get overwhelmed too often. Guarantee that I don’t have to spend every weekend hurting my back sitting in one of the uncomfortable chairs in the library. Promise me that I will have enough time to finish watching "One Tree Hill" on Netflix.

Please grant me professors that post grades in a timely fashion, aren’t incredibly vague in their instructions and expectations, and don’t lecture in a completely monotone voice. I hope that at least one of them has a sense of humor that they are generous in sprinkling throughout their lectures. I hope that all of them actually care about us students. At this point in time, I’ve had professors that range from unbelievably amazing to just okay to ugh. Please do not hand me the professor that was born and raised in the pits of hell this semester. I really don’t have the time to deal with that.

Always remind me to keep a positive attitude, okay? Even when I have two exams and a huge project due on the same day. Even when one of my group members refuses to pull their weight. Even when I feel like the only person that likes me is my mom, and that can be up for debate sometimes. Even when I miss eating home cooked meals and having a kitchen full of food I don’t have to buy myself at my disposal. Even when I feel like I have no idea how to get what I want out of life. Even when … well, you get the idea. Just make sure I don’t get too down on myself.

Make sure that I haul myself to the gym and exercise at least a few times a week, even when I think I “don’t have the time” or “don’t feel like it.” But at the same time, make sure that I never turn down an opportunity to use the soft-serve ice cream machine in the dining hall.

Even though I’m an adult now (but it doesn’t feel like it most of the time) and a stereotypical stressed-out college student… allow me to be young. Let me feel like the weight of the world isn’t on my shoulders constantly. Give me permission to have fun in a time when I’m worrying about a career that I don’t even have yet, stressing about assignments that I won’t remember in a few months, and too old to be carefree yet too young to be serious. Let me live.

I know that you’re going to give me some tough situations. There will be nervous breakdowns, long phone calls to my mom, and times where if I eat another plate of cold, flavorless pasta from the dining hall that I’m going to scream. But I know that you will give me wonderful memories as well. Memories that I will cherish for a lifetime.

Thank you for the 15-week journey ahead that will bring me to the end of my sophomore year and make me halfway done with college experience. Thank you, Spring Semester.