My first year of college has been incredibly exciting and full of new discoveries, about myself, and about the people I vibe with. Attending college has given me access to a lot of unique opportunities -- the most valuable, to me, are the opportunities I have to meet so many new people. My friends at college have a special place in my heart, and I’m so happy to have met them.
1. The silverfish in the bathroom
I was in my bathroom, minding my business when I saw what looked like a tiny stain slither across two squares of tile. I froze, eyes fixed on the wriggling bug. I was on the toilet, so there wasn’t a lot I could do -- I just had to sit there, petrified, watching the bug crawl all over the bathroom floor.
After a while, I got used to the bug’s presence, and although I had to trap him in an empty toilet paper roll, I felt like we had connected on a spiritual level. I left him in the little cardboard loop when I was done in the bathroom. When I would return to the bathroom, I'd maybe check on the silverfish, but more likely pee. If I come to find a toilet paper roll void of any bugs. I won't miss him -- they say if you love something, you have to let it go.
2. The cleaning staff who are always smiling
There’s something about the cleaning people I see at weirdly specific times in my resident hall. They have such a gentle, friendly aura. Ever since I first moved in a day early, and the workers in the res halls were my only company in the building, I have thought of them as a protective presence. They’re like the guardians of the res halls. Without them, my building would crumble. The ceilings would collapse. The paint would chip off. Everything would just become sadder without the cleaning people here. They’re wonderful.
3. The vending machine on the first floor
Like the cleaning people, the vending machine has been here for me since day one. I’ve probably spent at least $50 at the vending machine in total this school year. What else am I supposed to do when all the dining places are closed and I don’t have nearly enough money to pay More Store prices (I’ll buy a pint of ice cream and a can of Pringles and somehow the total comes out to five hundred dollars). The vending machine is usually pretty reliable, unlike its neighbor, the drink machine, which takes neither credit cards nor cash, and is straight-up turned off half the time.
4. The 13-month-old I babysat
For a few months this semester, I had a job babysitting a little kid. I honestly think he’s the funniest 13-month-old in the world, but I haven’t met a lot of 13-month-olds, so I don’t have a super well-informed opinion. We learned a lot from each other -- I learned from him that in order to make a baby stop crying, you have to do stuff that would both horrify and perplex an adult (like repeatedly shushing them while doing the YMCA dance). And he learned from me that his crying will cause his caretaker to take some drastic measures with her comforting methods.
5. The roasted herb potatoes at Terra Ve
There have been days where I’ve woken up late, had to skip breakfast, and then sit through a kind-of-early class, hungry and miserable. I would come out of class half-asleep and craving food. I would always pass by Terra Ve on my way back to my dorm, and for a while, it was my go-to dining area. And I was often blessed with those gorgeous roasted potatoes, which I would always get as a side. Somehow, no other potatoes on campus could compare to those at Terra. Those potatoes are five-star potatoes -- the creme de la creme of Purchase potatoes. I would be lost without them.
6. My son, the groundhog
Right outside my bedroom window is a weird silo-looking structure surrounded by a fence. Since moving in, I’ve become acquainted with some of my neighbors, the most notable being a groundhog we saw within the first month of school. We named him Nupeppo, and we have really grown to love him. His winter hibernation ended one or two months ago, and we’ve been seeing a lot of him again. He usually hangs out in the sun and munches on grass. He respects our space and we respect his. I don’t know about my roommates’ connections to him, but this is the first neighbor I’ve had who I’ve loved like a son.
7. Every dog I see on campus
Seeing dogs has become a kind of luxury since coming to college. It feels like there are more restraints here, especially on having pets (although there are exceptions). So I cherish any dog I see on campus. Even if I can only see him from afar, I acknowledge him and I love him for gracing me with his presence. If I’m walking behind a dog, I’ll just start following it instead of going to class. Every dog is very important, but especially if he is close to the ground and looks like he’s smiling. Thanks, dogs. I love you.
