Woohoo!!! It's homecoming!!! This is a week of excitement, but also a week of stress. K-State has so many great events that happen during homecoming. Whether it be a performance like Pant the Chant, Wildcat Request Live, or something that gets displayed all week like Paint the Ville or the Spirit Sign, it is a totally different atmosphere than a normal week of classes. Here are a few tips to help make this week a little easier for you.

1. Get your schoolwork done early

This may be "no-brainer" but you would be surprised how many people forget about that paper they had to write, to that quiz that is due at midnight. Some professors and instructors will understand the excitement and distraction that is homecoming, but others won't care. Give yourself time to do your work thoroughly so you aren't rushed to get to WRL or class. Don't let homecoming take your A in a class and make it a B.

2. Get plenty of sleep

You first reaction to this tip is probably an eye roll and the word "duh" coming out of your mouth. But seriously, sleep. You won't have fun at the parade or trying to finish that last bit of pomping if you are tired and cranky. Taking a power nap of 15 minutes can really change your attitude. If you have time, I highly recommend a quick nap before a long event of class. Homecoming is a lot less fun when you're tired.

3. Pomping, pomping, pomping

If you are in a fraternity, sorority, scholarship house, etc., realize that your float is going to take a lot of your time and your house may require hours that you must pomp. Pomping may look like a totally boring process (pushing tissue paper into a glue-sprayed chicken wire for several hours only to have filled a square foot section of wire), but the end product is completely worth it. Take your time pomping and make it fun with your friends, crank up the tunes and have a grand ole time!!! It may seem like hard work now, but I've had a lot of great conversations and memories made with my friends while pomping.

4. Take a lot of pictures

It may seem ridiculous when you think about it, but take pictures. My parents weren't able to come to homecoming so they didn't see the mass chaos and events that were happening on campus. I took literally a million pictures to show them and I've found myself going back through them throughout the year just to smile at them. Whether it be your awesome float, your costumes for WRL, or even what your hair looks like after getting the drift from spraying glue while pomping. Take pictures, a picture is worth a thousand words and you can tell a great story with visual aids. Also, you will want photo evidence of the crazy stuff you see or had to do during the weekend and send a ton of pictures.

5. Don't be afraid to stand out and do something different

Whether it is wearing a ridiculous costume at the 5k walk/run, yelling the loudest at Pant the Chant and the parade, don't be afraid to stand out. Homecoming is the perfect opportunity to stop stressing and have fun. Try something new that is terrifying, you might end up liking it. Take a step out of your comfort zone and make some new memories. Don't look back on homecoming and think, "what if?" Instead, look at homecoming and go, "Why not?" I guarantee you won't regret it.