A true Illini dreads the summer months apart from our home at U of I. There’s something so special and magical about our second home that can’t keep us away for long. Maybe it’s the friends we’ve made, the Greek life, the passions we have discovered, the independence we’ve gained. Or maybe it’s because of its imperfections: the unreliable bus times, the horrible weather and lack of snow days (still not over it), the oh-so rigorous courses. Each student has a different and unique love for U of I, but no matter what, we are one entity that bleeds orange and blue, chants I-L-L-I-N-I, and sings Alma Mater’s hymn.

So where are you from?

This is probably one of the most asked questions on campus. Although we spend more months in Champaign-Urbana, we still have a hometown that we love. Chicago is home to many students, whether they live 50 ft. from the John Hancock or in a suburb just outside. Chicago is a world city for its worldwide economic and cultural influence. Every student from Chicago should take a moment and absorb everything Chicago has to offer. Being away from the Champaign cornfields is an excuse within itself to explore the city. Get off the couch, be a tourist in your city, and appreciate how wonderful and powerful truly Chicago is.

You ask yet another question: What is there to do? 

Attend any music festival or concert. Because Chicago is such a big city, many different artists choose to perform here. Chicago is also known for the Chicago Blues and its jazz. Chicago has every type of music festival you could ever wish for. Many teens attend Lollapalooza, North Coast and Spring Awakening. Go to one, and I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.

Attend any theater or musical. Choose your favorite childhood Disney movie and relive it up close, in the front row at the Goodman Theatre or Chicago Theatre.

Try the food. Chicago is so diverse that you can get a taste of every culture you ever dreamed of. The Taste of Chicago is the world’s largest food festival held in Grant Park and is an easy way to test your taste buds. But don’t forget to try Chicago’s signature deep-dish pizza and Chicago-style hot dog!

Release the tourist inside you. Visit Chicago’s famous attractions, ranging from skyscrapers to museums to stunning views. For the curious and education lovers: the Field Museum, the Museum of Science and Industry, the Adler Planetarium, the Shedd Aquarium, and the Art Institute of Chicago. For animal lovers: the Brookfield Zoo and Lincoln Park Zoo. For the photographers: Buckingham Fountain, the Chicago Botanic Garden, the Chicago Loop Bridges, Michigan Ave., the Willis Tower (Sears Tower), the John Hancock, Navy Pier, Millennium Park and Grant Park.

Be a die-hard Chicago sports fan. Wrigley Field holds games for the Chicago Cubs baseball team, US Cellular Field hosts the White Sox, Soldier Field for the Chicago Bears, the United Center for the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks and Toyota Park for the Chicago Fire soccer team. During the summer months baseball and soccer games are in season.

As students, visit another university. This could be fun and can serve as a reminder of why you originally picked U of I. The top universities in Chicago are: the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, Loyola University Chicago, Illinois Institute of Technology, DePaul University and the University of Illinois at Chicago. But not one is like the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

By the end of each day and summer as a whole, you will have conquered the city as a true Chicago resident and Illini.