Don’t be afraid to have good old-fashioned fun

I can’t begin to tell you how much I wish I were in your shoes. See, I’m one of those people who would stay in college forever, if I could. I would pay more than my four years of out-of-state tuition to travel back in time to August 2005, standing outside my dorm kissing my parents goodbye. Not that I wanted to get away or anything. But I now know the magic that four years at this University holds. The best friends you’ll ever make, the most fun you’ll ever have and the best thing of all – never being bored.

Probably the best advice I could give you is the following five things you should do before you graduate. They may seem simple, but read on, dear friends, because they are just as important to your college days as that GPA and, uh, degree thing that may, just may, land you a job.

1. Enjoy Bloomington without the booze.

You might be surprised to see a 22-year-old write that very sentence, but it’s true. There is more to Bloomington than the bar scene. Going out on your 21st birthday will be fun, it’s true. But the best times I’ve had in this town were not found in a bar. Many of them were on my floor freshman year, dancing in my dorm room with friends or gallivanting around campus at night. I’ve painted the Jordan Avenue bridge, sung karaoke, taken pictures with the Herman B Wells statue, played at Cascades Park, gone roller skating and more. Growing up is overrated, so enjoy this time to still be a kid.

2. Take fun classes, too.

More students than are probably willing to admit swear up and down that they only have room for academic classes in their schedule. "I’m so busy!" they say. Let me tell you – you are not that busy. Taking a fun class will not only relieve any stress in your busy life, but will also allow you to meet fun friends and create a space in your day to take your mind off life. In addition to taking a full academic course load each semester and working countless hours at the Indiana Daily Student, I’ve managed to take classes in guitar, ice skating, photography, fencing and jazz dance. This fall I will add tap dance and basketball to the list (and yes, I’m graduating on time). Some may call it slacking, but I call it being well-rounded, enjoying myself and (gasp!) learning something that’s actually fun. Most of these classes are only one-credit, and in case you didn’t know already, you are paying for 17 credit hours a semester whether you use them or not.

3. Go to the Fire Tower.

This little place gets a category of its own. Take a trip down Highway 446 and head south about 10 miles. Take a left on Tower Ridge Road, about three miles after you cross the lake. (If you see a little church, you’re in the right place.) It’s a long and winding gravel road, and you’ll swear I’ve sent you there to die. After about 15 minutes on that road, you will reach a clearing and there will be a tall, grey fire tower with a million stairs. You will climb to the top, high above the trees, seeing as far as eyes can possibly see. It’s beautiful. I’ve made the trek with friends countless times to see the fall leaves turn hues or the winter stars shine bright. Put this at the top of your to-do list. It’s more than worth it.

4. Take a personal day every now and then.

No doubt college will take a toll on your hard-working self. You’ll study too much, sleep too little and be all around worn-out. Don’t be afraid to take a personal day every once in a while. Grown-ups get them for work, so why shouldn’t we? Miss a class, sleep in, eat your favorite foods and watch some movies. You may say, "Well, then I’ll just be even more behind." But the truth is, one day of rest will actually gear you up to tackle that to-do list better than you could have before. (Don’t worry, most professors allow you to miss a couple classes before any actual penalties.)

5. Get IU basketball tickets.

I don’t care how broke you are or how expensive they get, Indiana basketball tickets are worth every penny. IU basketball is filled with a rich tradition that you should feel lucky to be a part of. Being from Illinois myself, I stumbled onto campus with little knowledge of the amazingness that IU basketball holds. But it took about 45 seconds of singing a little song called "Indiana, Our Indiana" and an "Eric Gordon" chant at a sold-out home game to show me otherwise. I can’t explain the rush that came over me watching basketball greats D.J. White and Eric Gordon rush down the court as the crowd erupted in cheers. Or sitting 10 rows away while Indiana beat Wisconsin and then rushing the court with thousands of fans. Truth be told, this year’s season doesn’t likely have such things in store. But take my advice and don’t be a fair-weather fan. There’s just no price on an amazing college basketball game. Win or lose, you’re watching history in the making, and besides, it’s just plain fun. They say people remember the last thing they read, so make a note to remember this.