During my adventures in Panama City this spring break, tragedy struck. Our last day on the beach I left my fanny pack unattended for less than 10 minutes, and all my most personal belongings were stolen.Being disconnected from the virtual world for almost a week until I replaced my phone, even further proved to me that I take everything I have for granted. Looking back, I have been able to compile the top five worst things a college student can lose.1.    Debit or credit cards. For obvious reasons, this is one of the worst things that a college student can lose. I had my debit card and my last $40 in my fanny pack when it got stolen. Once it was gone, I was officially broke for the rest of the vacation, and I couldn’t even get cash out because the card was missing. Never bring your card out with you unless it is absolutely necessary. I would have been fine that day with just my cash, cash is easier to replace than a stolen debit card and the spend limit is much, much less.
2.      A smartphone. Of all the things that I lost that day, I was the most torn up about losing my phone. I never realized how attached I was to my phone until it was gone. Not only was it an almost brand-new smartphone, it also was the home to many quality pictures, apps and documents from the last year. Thankfully, I was able to recover all of my contacts and some pictures, but in the end, I lost all of my hilarious pictures from the beach and the ability to contact anybody for the next week. Let me tell you, a 15-hour car ride without a phone is not something I would wish upon anyone. Phones are also terribly expensive, and I was forced to blow half of my savings to buy a new one, all because I had a drunken lapse of judgment. 
3.      The ability to Snapchat.  As if losing a phone isn’t terrible enough, being stripped of your ability to Snapchat crazy, probably inappropriate pictures is a college student’s nightmare. As a Snapchat enthusiast, it felt extremely strange not being able to just snap a picture of the funny scenarios I encountered. And, yes, while this might sound like a huge “first world problem” it was one of the things I struggled with the most during my week of being unplugged. Do not ever take pictures that will conveniently disappear in 5-10 seconds for granted. 
4.      Your I.D.  I could write an entirely separate article outlining all the terrible things that come with losing your I.D. Not only does it mean a guaranteed trip to everyone’s least favorite place, the DMV, it also puts a damper on your social life until you can get it replaced. That night I had to stay in the hotel while all my friends went to the bar because I had no way of proving I was 21. Thankfully, my I.D. was the first item I replaced, and I did not have to miss any exchanges, however, losing your I.D. is the worst. If there is one thing to not let out of your sight it is your I.D. Guard it. 
5.      Your parents' trust. Throughout this instance, I was not only disappointed in myself, but I also feel like I let my parents down. Until this day, I have always been extremely responsible and careful with my valuables. When I lost everything, it was a hard pill for my parents to swallow. I have to work pretty hard to regain their trust and prove to them that I am responsible. 
In the end, things happen. We need to learn that we cannot control everything that happens around us and react appropriately to the crises happening. And to the person who stole my things, I hope karma comes back and bites you in the booty.