While rummaging through the clothes I’ve worn this week I came over a sweatshirt that was over sized and warm. The weather was a bit gloomy and I didn’t feel like putting on a button up, or wearing any kind of lace today. I glazed over the shirt to make sure that it was stained and smelled the sweatshirt to make sure it smelled clean. Since it smelled clean, it was clean… Right? If I was at home I would have thrown it in the washer and walked around all day in a tank top. But, this is college and I didn’t feel like spending $3.00 on a wash and a dry for 3 pairs of leggings and shirts I wear throughout the week. I cannot be only one that repeats outfits without washing them… Even if it’s even once.

In all reality college is gross, it’s not all friendships and rose petals. Actually I don’t think that my dorm room has even smelled like rose petals. Even with my air wick plugged into my wall I can still smell the trash I forgot to take out and the coffee that’s been sitting in my coffee cup way too long.

We don’t always have the time to do the things we would do at home over the summer or over a fall/Spring break. Things get dirty, they sit for WAY too long, and they start to smell. It’s just not something. Your college won’t display these truths on a pamphlet but’s it more than true

These are the gross realities of college:

1. When’s the last time I washed my sheets?
   I have a full schedule and on the weekend I just want to sleep in! But, I’m sleeping on the same pillow cases and sheets I put on at the start of the semester. Laundry is just too expensive and I’m too tired to move off my bed to wash them. Maybe I’ll do them next week.
   
2. Oops I Forgot to Shower today!
   I didn’t do anything but study so how gross can I be, it’s just too much work to undress, shower, redress, not to mention is so cold outside. It gets especially bad during finals week. If I forgot to eat, I’m sure as hell not going to remember to shower.
3. It’s 7:50, I’m late to Class, and I can’t find my toothbrush.
   The only logical things to do is not talk to anyone and swish my mouth like water. I’m not paying $1,000 a credit to be late to class for making sure my teeth are brushed. I’ll just extra bush them tonight.
   
4. Should I sweep, sanitize, or nap?
   After an 8 am class, 3 meetings, an afternoon workout, and a 5 hour study session it’s so hard to feel the need to clean. It’s not like I go a whole semester without sweeping or cleaning but maybe just a week or two. Of course if my roommate gets sick I might sanitize the door handle but don’t be surprised if the most or all of the girls in dorms don’t do that.
5. I think the grosses part of college is the stuff that consume.
   College food isn’t gourmet and it isn’t always healthy. Most of it is fried, covered in butter, or it’s picked up at Walmart and is processed and unhealthy. I just feel gross after every meal.
   

Of course not everyone is like this and it’s not embarrassing. Its college and we all understand the stress levels and tiredness. I won’t judge you for not cleaning your dishes or wearing the same outfit twice. We are in the same book and trying to survive. So if you need to wash your sheet tonight just remember that there is always tomorrow, the next day, and they day after that.