The absolute WORST part of syllabus week is the ice breakers in every class with less than 100 people. I always find it humorous that even in adulthood, it seems that the best way to get to know someone is by asking the same questions we've been faced with since elementary school.

What's your favorite movie? Or, if you could be any animal what would you be and why? Or, my personal favorite, what's your favorite food? The truth is, my two favorite foods are mashed potatoes and ice cream, and obviously odd combination that should never be tried together (seriously). So I try to give a more standardized response, ensuring that I don't come off too weird to my new classmates. I always confidently state, "Ice Cream."

So thank you ice cream for being my co-favorite food. Thank you for allowing me to relate to my classmates over our mutual infatuation with you. I have met very few people that I cannot carry a very in depth conversation about your glory. Thank you for being a way to unite people of all ages and lifestyles (except people who are lactose intolerant... sorry for your loss).

Thank you ice cream for being my "go-to" date in the summer time. Thank you for melting on my hands so that I can tell if I guy is decent or not when he offers to get a napkin for me. You've definitely given me some great hints, and I probably should have payed better attention to your "advice" on the others.

Thank you for being there for me through every heartbreak, heartache and betrayal. Thank you for staying faithful during my countless Netflix marathons. Sometimes you don't need other people around, you just need to be by yourself with a pint of Ben & Jerry's.

Thank you for encouraging me to broaden my horizons by making me drive half an hour off campus just to go to my favorite ice cream place. Somehow you managed to make me feel a little bit more at home from 2 hours away. There's something about a familiar taste and a familiar setting that makes you realize that maybe things aren't that different here after all.

Thank you for always keeping things interesting and having a million different options. There are days when a simple vanilla cone will do, but sometimes only three scoops of the most fattening ice cream on the menu will do. I know that there will always be at least one ice cream flavor that I have never tried, but I like to think that one day I will be pretty close to trying them all.

Thank you for being the fastest way to turn my day around and put a smile on my face. Thank you for sticking by my side for the past 20 years, I really could not have done it without you.