Now that Syllabus week is over, hopefully we're all able to look back with nothing but fond memories. And why wouldn’t we? We are finally back with our best friends in the happiest place on Earth (sorry Disney). Classes are easy, and as many have said, “attendance is for overachievers” this week. That mix could only lead to frolicking around fratland and breaking in all of your friends’ new apartments with family dinners, pregames, and already too many pokeys. Coming back to school after a summer away is bound to bring some bad late night decisions and too many embarrassing 'sent' texts. It's not until you go through it that you realize the true love/hate relationship the first week of school is capable of torturing you with.
High: The Reunion
There’s an indescribable feeling you get pulling into State College and knowing you and your best friends are back in the same town again. The last few miles seems like hours as if your parents are driving slower to campus on purpose. A passive aggressive comment to make them go faster just makes matters worse. Tensions rise, but the speedometer does not.High: Honey, I’m Home!
Stale beer and sweat should never be a mix of smells a person could miss but stepping into your favorite frat proves that wrong. Walking up and having the guy at the door welcome you with open arms while yelling at other people to get out makes you feel way cooler than you should.
High/ Low: Spot the Freshmen
There is a learning curve that comes with night life. Not just what to wear during each part of the week, but navigating through the streets of fratland. Clumps of overdressed girls stand at street corners waiting to follow a crowd into a house they won't know the name of for weeks. As entertaining as it is to watch them in their packs, it's easy to miss the days of being clueless and just going along with anything. (Freshmen—don't worry, you'll figure it out soon enough).Low: Class
It came as a shock to me too. The real reason we come here is to learn. It’s so easy to forget that when we are offered so many alternative activities. Naturally, the alternative activities have nothing to do with clubs and sports teams but everything to do with sleeping. Skipping class would be too easy, because who really needs to have the syllabus read to them for an hour and fifteen minutes? But the "good luck with class today" text from your parents brings too much guilt not to go.
Low: Low Key Hating THAT Girl
A rule should be put in place that no one can look good for morning classes Syllabus week. I walked into my first class Monday morning and despite the fact that I was meeting all these people for the first time, my hair was up and last nights makeup was still intact but only in one eye. No one else was dressed to impress either so it wasn’t a huge deal. Until a girl with fresh makeup, a dress, and beautifully curled hair walked in and sat across from me. That is when I knew I was trash.
Low: The Frat Guy That Doesn’t Know the Meaning of “No”
Enough said. People don't joke around when they say a smile can go a long way. All it takes is a friendly half smile for a creepy frat guy to think he's in. The conversation goes from "what's your name?" to "I'll give you a tour of the house" real quick. And no matter what obstacles you try to put in his way, he's able to maneuver around each and every one. Boyfriend? Not an issue. Your roommate is sick? She'll be fine.
High: Take a Break
Initially, it's a great idea. You'll catch up on sleep, try to get your life put back together, and be able to wake up feeling 100%. The movie your friends and you watched was funny and Uncle Chen's was bomb. FOMO hits you when you go through your snapchat stories and you get mad at your decision to stay in. But at the same time you know there is no way you'd be able to sit up in your bed, let alone get out of it all together. Quiet quality time with friends trumps everything else.
High: Freakin' Weekend
To really rally, the weekend must be taken full advantage of. Not having to set an alarm for the morning is just more motivation for that extra shot (or five). Everyone is in the highest spirits. The houses are sweatboxes but that doesn't stop everyone from dancing in overcrowded rooms for hours. Yeah, you might have woken up on a random stranger's floor the next morning but look at it more as making a new friend instead of being a degenerate.
Low: Texts
You either had a really good night or really bad night if you wake up and see that the most recent text you sent read "u don't leave pie ok in the middle do that wrong." At the time, you probably thought you were sending a fire text but now there's no explanation or way to decode what was sent. Just add that boy to the list of people to hide your face from while walking around campus.
High: Sundays are for the Students
Breathe a sigh of relief as you survived the week and can now go back to being a normal human. Productivity is already increasing and the library has more than five people in it. Homework assignments are being submitted and the list of things to do is slowly but surely getting crossed off. Starbucks will be making a ton of money today as everyone will be needing caffeine to get a weeks worth of work done before the night is over.
It's a week of reuniting, procrastinating, eating, drinking, laughing and falling. We may not remember all of the memories that were made this week but most of us have bruises to remind us. We won some, and lost most.
