Completing your very first semester of college can create a whirlwind of emotions and a roller coaster of both high and low moments. In the time between the first day of orientation, and the moment when you hand in your last final exam, the everyday experiences you encounter create memories that will last a lifetime. And, in honor of enduring the twists and turns of the very first semester of college, these are some moments when "Parks and Rec" perfectly depicted our emotions throughout the semester in ways that we could not.
1. Your parents give you that last hug goodbye and you are free to begin your journey as an independent young adult.
2. But then you realize you're not going to see them for weeks and that you are alone in this new foreign world called college.
3. You spend your first couple of days of freedom with your orientation group, playing endless rounds of Ninja, Baby Shark and other ice breakers -- all without your routine cup of coffee.
4. And let's not forget about the wide variety of people you encounter within the first couple of weeks of classes.
There are the people who would rather be watching paint dry than be forced to meet new people and make small talk. The people who are trying very hard to be as calm, cool and collected as possible.
Let's be honest, we all know that you are not actually that laid back 24/7. And most importantly, the people who you know will laughing, crying, stressing and smiling by your side for the rest of you college career.
If you're lucky, you will find your person.
5. You have to drag yourself out of bed for your 8:30 a.m. class various times throughout the week.
Some people just can't function before their morning cup of joe.
6. And when you proceed to wake up late for said 8:30 class, which is so conveniently located on the opposite side of campus.
7. But then, miraculously, your professor announces that the following class is cancelled.
Blessings, on blessings, on blessings.
8. You realize you have four exams, three essays, an oral presentation and group project due all within two days.
9. This being said, you seem to find yourself spending many late nights in the library or the lounge in your dorm.
10. And when you need a motivational pep talk to pull through such nights.
11. The words every student loves to hear: free food.
Whether you are a business student or not, odds are you will make an appearance there.
12. You have the sudden motivation to go to the gym every day.
13. You begin to realize the horrible mistake you made by deciding to do so.
Preach it, Ann Perkins.
14. You come back to school after a break-whether it was for one week or one month -- and can finally reunite with your partner in crime.
15. When, after what seems like an eternity, the weekend arrives and you realize that you survived yet another hectic and stressful week.
One down, many more to go.
16. You experience the dreaded week that you've always heard upperclassmen talk about, but never wanted to believe actually existed: finals week.
17. And, finally, you pack your bags and head home for the holidays, anxiously and excitedly wait to do it all over again in a month.
Congrats, everyone, we survived the first semester.
