Fall, the season of brilliant colors gracing trees, hoodies, and pumpkin spice everything, Some people look forward to fall because the cool weather is an excellent excuse to cuddle with their boyfriends, some people look forward to delicious warn fall flavors such as crisp apple ciders, and rich pumpkin lattes. Dan Humphrey loved fall because it is the season of his favorite holiday, Thanksgiving. At college, we are fortunate to ring in the changing leaves with a plethora of campus sponsored events. This weekend our school will host the time honored tradition of the Dirty Pig Feast. Contrary to the name, there are no actual pigs, and most of the time, everyone is very clean. The Dirty Pig Feast is a cookout type event which involves free BBQ, inflatables, and fellowship! Although the event promises to be a festival of fall fun, as a senior, it is ferociously tempting to skip out on the festivities, and hide in my room with my theology homework and gossip girl re-runs, or even to go for a faint amount of time, to five finger the free food and then hot foot it back to the dorm. However, I will attend the Dirty Pig Feast, and not just because I am a member of campus activities board and have to help serve! Here are the nine reasons I think attending campus events is important, even for homework-riddled seniors.
1. The temptation to stay in your room is real, but if you never mingle, you won't know anybody at your college reunions! College friends are lifelong friends. These will be the people who cheer for you at graduation, stand beside you in your wedding, throw your baby showers, and drive to you in the middle of the night when you get a bad call from the hospital.
2. No one can understand how stressed out you are as well as your equally stressed out classmates. What better way to feel better about that paper due tomorrow that you haven't started, than to complain to several people in your class (who also haven't started) about how hard it is, while chomping on free food? They get it, you get, and you get food. There is no deal breaker here. Except that empty word document. If you weren't friends before, you are now. Nothing brings people together like last minute panic.
3. Seniors, this is your chance to impact freshman. Tell them about your club, invite them to a community service project, show them the ropes. Your guidance can make such a huge difference in their lives. They need someone they can look up to, and you can be that person! Mentoring a freshman is a great way to make a difference on campus, keep traditions alive, and help freshman learn how to survive college.
4.Freshman! On the opposite end of this, this is an awesome chance to make friends with seniors. They aren't scary, and believe me, they are an absolute wealth of information. Just ask them for advice, and I promise, the majority of them will be friendly. Upperclassmen can give advice on projects, books, which professors are terrifying, who will let you skip class, the best shows to binge on Netflix, and dating. Plus, there is a really good chance they will introduce you to their cute friends. Use campus events to step out of your comfort zone and make older, wiser friends who have been there, done that. Besides, it gives them to an opportunity to realize how great they have it these last few months before graduation. You're doing them a favor. Really.
5. Okay, lets be real folks. Campus sponsored activities = a chance to see your professors out of class. Now this may not sound appealing off the bat, but outside of class, professors turn into wonderful human beings with actual hearts and feelings. You may be surprised to learn they actually really care about you, and are happy to advise you on life, your major, their classes, and consequently, which seniors to stay away from. Besides, you've never really lived until you've seen your sixty year old professor dance on a table.
6. You are not a vampire. Twilight stopped being cool in 2009. You need direct sunlight to get you through all those long nights in the library. Go outside. Get your Vitamin D. Have fun at your campus sponsored event. You won't sparkle. I promise.
7. I know its hard to believe, but the events can actually be lots of fun. You get to hang with your friends, eat food of the non caff variety, and play games that you don't have to pay for. Campus sponsored activities make a great free girls/guys night out, as well as a fantastic free date night!
8. I know you are grumpy and exhausted, but lets face it, are you really going to do any homework if you take that nap? Brush your hair, and go hang out. Spending time at campus events is a great way to de-stress without having to go somewhere. After an hour or two chilling with your friends, you will be more relaxed, and in a better mind state to do homework. Besides, jumping around in a bouncy castle will get your adrenaline up, and keep you awake to write that paper, not to mention laughing at all your friends jumping around will boost your endorphin's and invigorate you way more than trying to take a nap will.
9. Your campus works hard to make events they think you will enjoy. They spend lots of time, money, and effort, into making a safe place for you to mingle and mix with your fellow students and professors. Why not show them how much you appreciate all their hard work by going and having an awesome time? Besides, some professors give extra credit for going! Whatever you do, don't be the college student that says
Have fun, and thank your administration!
Special thanks to all the members of CAB for all the hard work they put in every year to make fun campus events for us.
