A Beginner’s Guide to Romanticizing College Life

College is stressful. There are assignments, exams, early wake ups, meetings, and the constant feeling that you’re forgetting something important. But somewhere between all of that, you find the little moments that are actually pretty great.

And when you do, it calls for a little romance!

I’ve learned that making college feel special doesn’t require some huge adventure every weekend. Most of the time it’s about making the normal days a little more fun.

Welcome to your pocket guide on how to wear your rose colored glasses right.

Make the coffee run an event

Getting coffee before class is objectively more exciting when you convince your friends to come with you. Bonus points if you try somewhere new instead of going to the Thomas Hammer in Hemm that you frequent too much to admit. Extra points if you bring your campus crush, you go girl!

Take the long way

Walk across campus instead of rushing everywhere. Ride your bike or skateboard. Bump a dopamine hit playlist in your headphones. Call your mom (very important). Look around and count how many squirrels you see. Not every five minute gap in your schedule needs to be filled with assignments.

Say yes to random things

Join the intramural team. Go on the outdoor trip that scares you a bit. Attend the random campus fair. Try something you have absolutely no experience doing, because nine times out of ten, you end up having the most fun. And who knows you could find your new calling.

Find your people

This may be a no brainer for most people, but college is better when you have a handful of people who can make ordinary things fun. And it is totally easier said than done, but that’s another story. Find a couple people or roommates that will accompany you to the grocery store, study in the library, make dinner and then work their friendship magic to make those mundane moments into core memories.

Document the little moments

This one is important, and honestly I am working on this too. Not every picture needs to be Instagram worthy. Take pictures of the funny, chaotic, completely normal moments. They might be the ones you appreciate most later. Bonus tip: videos are even better because you capture the raw audio, reactions, laughs, and you can snap pictures of the best frames.

I care about this because I don’t want college to become something I feel like I am wasting or trudging through. Yes, obviously, I’m here to earn my degree, make my parents proud, and find a successful future career. But I am also here to make friends, laugh until I cry, and turn in an assignment or two late because I said yes to a late night froyo run. Guilty!

So buy the overpriced coffee, be the annoying friend who takes all the pictures, join the club with the weird name, and enjoy your ordinary Tuesday

You only get so many college Tuesdays.

xx, KJ