My dad is going to have a new job when I return to Marist from winter break. His main office will be located in Dallas, Texas. So because of that he’ll have to travel to Texas at least three or four times a week. Which means that he’ll be spending less time in the house, with my mom, with my older brother Harry, with my two dogs Finn and Lucky, or with me (which is already the case since I’m in college). Therefore, my dad presented the idea of permanently moving to Texas to my mom. But she said no because my family has been settled in my hometown of Fairfield,CT for about 25 years. He would have probably had me transfer schools too since he wouldn’t want his little girl to go to school all the way on the other side of the country.

So I’ve decided to make a list of 10 reasons for how my life would be different if I did move to Texas:

1. I would have never met such amazing friends

Tim, Aileen, Laura, Analisa, Caroline, Julia, Ally, Michelle, etc. You know who you are! I just need to let you guys know that each one of you is wonderful, hilarious, kind, and all of you make my college experience as amazing as it is. If I did move to Texas, I wouldn’t be able to see you guys every day. Every day you guys make me smile (even if I’m having a bad day). All of you have seen me at my best and even at my worst and I am so thankful to have met such spectacular people at my second home away from home.

2. I would hardly ever see my friends in Fairfield, CT

Now even though I wasn't the most popular kid in high school. I did make a few true and long lasting friends. And if I moved to Texas I wouldn’t be able to see them when I come back from college or during summer break. I would have to say goodbye to this bunch because I wouldn’t know when or if I’ll be able to see them ever again. That would be such a hard goodbye since I have made such great friendships with people such as: Lindsay, Isabel, Deandrea, Amira, Taylor, and the rest of my prom squad presented in this photo!

3. No more Palace Diner!

I’ve been to the Palace Diner at least 10 times. Whether it was with my dad, the Johnson’s from across the street (Len Johnson is a Marist alum), my gay best friend Tim, or my friends from the 9th floor of Champagnat. The food options (especially the strawberry milkshake and the fries with melted mozzarella cheese on top) are really good for diner food! It’s also open 24/7 so if I was in the mood for grilled cheese for 3:00 in the morning I could easily walk there. No offense but Texas probably doesn’t have a diner that is nearly as good as Palace!

4. What about my dogs?

If my family permanently moved to Texas, would my dogs Finn (the one on the left) and Lucky (the one on the right) come with us? Because having dogs in the Fiske family completes our family. Without having dogs in our house, it feels lonely and too quiet and personally I don’t like it when both of my dogs are not in the house. I couldn’t handle the fact of not seeing my dogs running (or walking in Lucky’s case) around my backyard anymore.

5. I would have never had all of these memories in the span of 4 months

From chilling by the river with a ukulele and a pint of Ben and Jerry’s, to watching horror movies in the commuter lounge, to singing to Les Mis in the middle of the dining hall, to auditioning for the MCCTA (Marist College Club of Theatre Arts) production of Snow White with my best friend to find out that we both got cast as the same part, to taking #artsy photos of the sunset by the Rotunda, to walking to CIA on a school night, and to even saving two girls from being kidnapped at Lit City, I have been having the time of my life at Marist College so far. I don’t think that I wouldn’t have as many great memories that I do at Marist if I went to a school in Texas.

6. I wouldn’t have close access to New York City

The $25 monthly Broadway trips, the $5 NYC shopping spree trips, and the $25 Radio City Rockette trips, just going into the city for fun on a Saturday? Forget about it! Not to mention the incredible internship opportunities when I’m a junior and a senior. Since my major is in the Communications field, Marist offers multiple internships specifically for my major! Such as the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, MTV, ABC News, Entertainment Tonight, or Madison Square Garden. You can even spend a semester in Manhattan by taking online courses, living in a apartment, and doing internships from the Marist in Manhattan program.

7. No more giant Ben and Jerry’s freezer

I could hear the angels from heaven singing every time I open that glorious freezer and buy myself a pint. The amount of flavors that the Cabaret Café offers are there to fulfill your every need. Whether your boyfriend just broke up with you and you need some Chocolate Therapy or if you’re feeling energetic and you’re craving some Coffee Toffee Crunch. That giant freezer will always be there for you with the only two men that you need in your life: Ben and Jerry.

8. My classes wouldn’t be small

The average class size at Marist College ranges from 20 to 30 students. And I am personally a huge fan of that because your professor gets to know very student in his or her classroom. They don’t view you as a number, they view you as a student. Now Texas is the second biggest state (by population) in the country so I highly doubt that my class size would be between 20 to 30 students if I went to college there.

9. I would have never had such a big dorm room

Yes, I know I’m in a quad and you’re probably thinking that I must be suffering because my dorm is so tiny with so many people right? WRONG! My dorm is actually just the right size for four people. You see, the freshman dorm Marian only has triples or quads (not to mention with huge walk-in closets) so since my room is the corner room, we get a lot more space than the rest of the dorm rooms on my floor. Believe me, all of my other friends who live in other freshman dorms or are even in my dorm are very jealous!

10. No more morning egg lines with Antoinette

Now even though I have a 9:30 class every day except Wednesday’s this semester, when I can catch that morning egg line before it closes at 11:00 it just makes my day a whole lot brighter. Antoinette knows what’s up! She cracks her eggs so fast, she knows people’s orders if you came to her at least five times, and she is so nice to everyone. My typical order is three eggs with spinach, mushrooms, and cheese on a roll. And before I even order she’s already cracking my eggs like rapid fire and knowing that I want extra cheese with those eggs! ;)