Dear 24-hour restaurants,
Although I am a little ashamed to admit it, you are one of the few things that keep me going as a broke, exhausted, struggling college student. I can't even count the number of times I have relied on you to get me through a time of distress. Without you, it's likely that I would have dropped out of school by now.
On nights when I am up studying until 3 a.m., you are the light at the end of the tunnel. There's nothing quite like a study break that is sure to not only fill my belly but also make me feel like I have immediately gained 10 pounds. I know that I will be able to keep my eyes open with the promise of going through your beautiful drive-thru window in my near future.
But late nights aren't the only reason I cherish you. There's also those painfully early mornings when I know I won't be able to survive without a coffee and a hash brown. As the sun is rising, you welcome my terrible eating habits with open arms and a lot of heartburn.
Now, while I cannot downplay the importance of fast-food restaurants such as Taco Bell, McDonald's and Jack in the Box, there is another category of 24-hour restaurants that has a special place in my heart. That's right, I'm talking about you, sit-down restaurants. Sometimes you just need a little rest and relaxation with a few friends after a long night out (shout out to you, Denny's). I can't even explain the feeling of seeing a waiter bringing me a steaming plate of eggs and bacon at 4 o'clock in the morning. There's simply nothing like it.
The truth is, we college students really don't deserve the blessings you bring us. What did we do to earn greasy, delicious food at any hour of the day? Why should we be bestowed with the gift of things like midnight tacos, late night cheeseburgers, or early morning pancakes? We don't know how to cook, we can't get our homework is done at a decent time and we stay out way too late. But there you are to help us through.
So here's to you, 24-hour restaurants. Thank you for being there when no one else is. Thank you for proving that the freshman 15 is so, so real. Thank you for your service to college students everywhere. And, most importantly, thank you for the dollar menu.
