Summer vacation just started, yet it feels like I've already been gone for a long time. When you spend nine months at a place, not only does it quickly become home, but you begin to get used to everything. Now that I am back in my hometown, I am readjusting to small-town life, but I am also beginning to miss college. Here are some of my favorite things that I miss about Missouri State:
1. SCHOLARS HOUSE: The smallest dorm on campus is probably the most social, and because of that, I made a second family in Scholars. Every day you could find Scholars residents eating at the same table in Garst, so family dinners were frequent. The residents of Scholars are all honors students, so everyone was serious about their schoolwork, but there were also so many talented people who were passionate about different things that it added life to the dorm. From Throwback Prom to the cookout on Spring Dead Day, we made so many amazing memories together. The friendly atmosphere of Scholars makes it what it is. I miss living in Scholars because it is where I slept, studied, and made friends for nine months.
2. THE STAFF: I think one of the best parts of Missouri State is the staff members. From the dining hall staff who keep us fed, to the professors and faculty members who make sure we're learning, and to the rest of the staff who make sure the campus runs smoothly year-round, it is safe to say that Missouri State is run by some of the best people around. Our president, Clif Smart, is a highly entertaining man who does more than enough to make sure students feel welcome. And let's not forget the BearLine drivers. They all have great stories to tell and they make sure we get home safely at night. Quite frankly, I don't know what I would do without the BearLine sometimes. Now, I miss all of the friendly smiles and hellos that I would get walking into Garst, as well as all of the hilarious Clif Smart videos.
3. THE STUDENTS: Students at Missouri State are simply great. Everyone who you meet is so down-to-earth and students come from such diverse backgrounds that you sometimes wonder if you're still in Missouri. Even in my honors courses, students are far from cut-throat which really makes for a perfect learning environment. Students are always willing to study together or tutor classmates who are struggling, and outside of the classroom, they spend their time volunteering and giving back to the community. I miss being constantly surrounded by such amazing people because it was easy to remember that we are never alone in this world.
4. CAMPUS: When I first visited campus, it was rainy and cold outside, so I honestly was not super impressed. Now that I've gotten to be on campus during spring, I have fallen in love with it. The entire campus is beautifully landscaped with colorful flowers and trees with low-hanging limbs, making students feel more like they're in a garden or forest than at school. The architecture and interior features of many of the buildings on campus are amazing too, such as the recreation center and the carillon. The university has a very modern feel in some of its buildings while others are the more classic academic buildings which honestly make me feel smarter. I miss walking to class in the morning and seeing the sun shine through the leaves on the trees, as well as watching the sunset cast an orange and pink glow over campus in the evening.
5. THE PSU: The student union is where I both drained my Boomer Meals and enjoyed Chick-fil-A just a few too many times. While it could get crazy during lunchtime and empty tables were virtually impossible to find, you were pretty much guaranteed to run into friends at the student union, making it one of the most social buildings on campus. And we can't forget the PSU Bear, who stands guard outside the student union every day and night, through rain and snow, and has taken pictures with thousands of students. Being away from college makes me miss being able to eat too much fast food and having a Starbucks less than a mile away.
6. THE MOMENTS SPENT WITH FRIENDS: Perhaps the thing that I miss the most about college is all of the late-night runs to Taco Bell and Hurts Donuts, as well as dancing in the rain and flood water outside Scholars House. I miss being able to see my friends night and day and always having someone to talk to, as well as all of the silly things we had to do to survive, like eating food with plastic knives when we ran out of forks or putting our table lamp in the bathroom when the light stopped working. You never know how crazy college is until you experience it for yourself.
It sucks to miss something as great as Missouri State, but I am also glad to be home. I finally get to catch up with family and friends, and I don't have to worry about school for a while. Summer doesn't last forever, and in less than three months, we'll all be heading back to our second home, where we will make even more wonderful memories and meet even more amazing people.
