If we're being honest, the first thing most people think of when they hear the word "Snapchat" is the dog filter. Embarrassing selfies sent to the wrong person, face swaps that turn out hysterical, and snap streaks! To me, Snapchat is a bit more than that.

Before I went to college, I never truly realized just how busy students are. Whenever my older friends would not text or call me back, I'd be disappointed and feel like a bother. Now I have come to the realization that they can not even help it! Being a second semester freshman, I realize that sometimes, life just happens. Between managing schoolwork, a social life, and a sleep schedule, college is crazy busy! While to the older generation Snapchat might be a tad annoying, to college students and teenagers alike, it's such a convenient app.

I now fully understand why texts or calls go unread and missed. It's so easy to send a quick picture to your friends, heck even some parents, and they know exactly what you are up to! You can show them the party you're at, your view from behind a stack of books in the library, what horrid meal you're forced to swallow in the dining hall, an adventure you and your friends take, or what show you're watching on Netflix after a long day! While yes, sending a text or making a call is not hard to do, sometimes a simple picture or video message do the trick too. But, the puppy filter is definitely a bonus.