Things I Miss About College

Many of the blogs I follow are written by college students, and it lately there have been lots of posts about Spring Break adventures, registering for summer and fall sessions and preparing for final exams... make this girl a bit nostalgic for her alma maters!

SO... I started thinking about my undergrad and graduate years... life certainly is different now!  Here are some things I miss about college!

1.  Being in total control of my life... more or less.  Sure, there are those pesky group projects (where one or two people usually carry the entire group)... occassionally the section you want to register for is already full... but during college I was bascially in control of every part of my life, specifically my time... not the case after graduation...!!

2.  My drive to College Station.  Highway 6 may not be some people's idea of an ideal drive but I miss those rides to campus.

3.  Oatmeal cookies at the Connections Cafe at UTA.  The. best. oatmeal. cookies. ever.  My last semester as an undergrad I had classes on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and then a long break before one 2 p.m. class.  I spent this time going to the Connections Cafe in the University Center to get cookies.  (Also... there is now an Einstein Bagel Bros. in the Fine Arts building which makes me so sad... why was this not there when I was a student?!  This was my building... I would have had a bagel sandwich every day!  Actually, maybe it is better there was not one...!)

4.  Being on campus in the evening, when it was quiet and calm.  This can be said for both UT-Arlington and Texas A&M... I loved walking around campus as the sun was setting, when you could literally feel the spirit of the school in the air.  It is hard to explain.  This time of day was very relaxing and when the campus was quiet it gave me an opportunity to reflect on the day and just take in being a college student... it would not last forever :  )  I used to admire the older buildings as I walked, imaging what it was like to be a student when those were new. 

5.  My part-time job.  I worked at our local zoo throughout high school and college (and some since)... and I adored my job.  I worked in the Guest Relations office during college, selling zoo memberships, answering guest questions and dealing with guest concerns (aka complaints!)  The hours were wonderful, we all had time at work to study, my co-workers and I were so close (several of us still are)... and I had the most fabulous manager ever.  I loved everything about it and miss it very much.

6.  Focusing on learning.  What?  I was there for an education?  Really?  Ha!  Seriously, I miss having the time and energy to focus on learning.  Graduate school was a bit of a different story because I was teaching full-time, but looking back undergrad life was great... all I had to do was go to school and study.  Fast-forward to today, filled with working, taking care of the baby, and house cleaning... and all the "adult" stresses that come with those things... and there is barely time to get the basics done, much less really concentrate on reading or mastering a new skill.

7.  Dr. Andresen at UTA and Dr. Burlbaw at TAMU.  Andresen was tough, Burlbaw was brilliant.  They were both awesome and I miss taking classes with them.

8.  Carrying my bright pink Jansport backpack.  When I transferred to UTA I purchased this backpack... it was large, pink, and amazing.  I called it the Magic Pink Bag.  I have been unofficially credited with starting the pink backpack trend on campus.  The bag is tucked away in the top of my closet... I will never part with it... it got me through college :  )

I am sure there are plenty of other things I miss but these are the things which came to mind.  I will leave you with photos of my graduations... UTA Class of '03 and a member of the Fightin' Texas Aggie Class of '09.