10 Things… That Happen During Your College Years

Ah college, it’s great isn’t it? When you’re there, you never want it to end and when you graduate, you lovingly look back on your undergrad with fondness. Sure didn’t you have the absolute craic?

College is fantastic because not only do you learn loads of cool stuff, you also meet people who will become your life-long friends and you get up to loads of divilment which just wouldn’t be acceptable in anywhere BUT college.

Here in the Her.ie office we’re getting a little nostalgic for the good old days of a little bit of education mixed with a whole lot of banter. Here are the 10 things that happen during your college years...

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10 Things That Happen During Your College Years

Pyjama pants become part of your daily attire

1. Proper clothing becomes optional: During the first semester of your first year of college, you make an effort in the clothing department. However, you soon realise that when it comes to a choice between sleepwear and actually being presentable, sleepwear will always win. By the time you graduate, pyjama pants have become one of your most favoured wardrobe staples.

2. You steal at least one traffic cone/road sign/bus stop poster: It sounds stupid but for some reason, nicking a traffic cone becomes the most hilarious thing ever after a night out when you’re with your friends. By the time you graduate, your bedroom will most likely resemble a traffic cone storage room.

3. You pull one all-nighter and swear you’ll never do it again (you end up doing it at least six more times...): Okay, let’s be completely honest: you just weren’t arsed starting that boring essay any time sooner. ‘It’s totally fine,’ you think. ‘I’ll get that shizz done in a few hours,’ you reason. By the time 7am rolls around, you still only have 1,000 words and you’ve now gone delirious from sleep deprivation.

4. You have at least one campus romance: Shifting someone in your class/accommodation building is a rite of passage when it comes to college. It never turns into anything serious, but on nights out, the two of you always end up having a sneaky smooch somewhere. It’s always awkward the next day. Always.

"Of course Introduction to Folklore will be a useful class!"

5. You take one completely useless class: Introduction to Folklore? Sure why not! Of course that will come in handy in real life. You never know when someone might ask you to explain the differences between a leprechaun and a fairy! And that Latin you’re studying? Totes useful.

6. You get at least one note sent home to your parents: Colleges are generally pretty easy going, but if you’re unfortunate to be under the age of 18 when you start, you’re likely to get at least one letter sent home about your awful attendance. Oops. 

7. It becomes perfectly acceptable to start drinking at 11am: Your first Rag Week is a revelation. Suddenly you realise that having the banter is not only fun, it’s also good for charity. You also vow that you’ll never start drinking that early again. This is a vow that you’ll make to yourself every single Rag Week, but never, ever stick to. 

8. You start drinking coffee: It doesn’t matter that it gives you the shakes and you absolutely HATE the taste of it, everyone in college drinks coffee and now, suddenly, you do too. What happened to you?

"He's just like us but he's a professional student"

9. You become BFFs with one lecturer: During your college years you’ll realise that lecturers are awesome because there are a few of them who are just perpetual students. You will bond with one of these forever-young lecturers and they will take you under their wing. You’ll have the craic with them and they’ll stay in touch with you all throughout your adult life. You’ll be like platonic lobsters.

10. You discover that you have an immense capacity for divilment: You never know how much craic you are until you go to college. You’ll find yourself getting up to all sorts and sure hey, isn’t that the entire point? (Well, aside from getting a good education like...)