Those Were the Days…

College is stressful, but the consolation prize is knowing we’ll get out and long for the days of midterms and class registration once reality sets in. Fun as the fantasy-land of undergrad is, however, while you’re trying to get through that mess of deciding your future, it’s hard not to look back on even better times.

By K

Say, age six.

Think about the perks. You were evaluated on your ability to stay in the lines and write legibly. The worst part of your day was discovering that Mom forgot a Snack-Pack in your lunch, or that there was no chocolate milk available from the cafeteria. Your only concern about boys was getting chased by them on the playground, and a kiss on the cheek prompted many an “ew!” It was all set up for you, you just had to show up.

And so, below I’ve constructed a list of things we should reinstate into our lives that have been long-gone since kindergarten:

1. Coloring. My best friend from college kept a coloring book and one of those awesome 64-packs of crayons with her, and when she needed a study break, she’d color. It’s mindless activity that is actually quite pleasant.
2. Recess. Now that we call these “weekends” or “breaks between classes,” the idea has gotten lost. Imagine if you were obligated to just go run around and get some energy out of your system for half an hour or forty-five minutes a day. Jump rope. Play hopscotch. SWING! Visiting a playground during the summer and swinging is the greatest form of nostalgia ever, and definitely makes you feel like a kid again. Just remember that you still have to share, parents get angry when twenty-somethings take too much time on the slides or swingset.
3. Disney movies as a reward for good behavior. Before spring break or winter vacation, my elementary teachers were a fan of showing the latest Disney movie on VHS after our holiday parties. Freaking awesome. Going back and watching “Aladdin” or “The Little Mermaid” now makes me appreciate the glory days of Disney cartoons more than ever. Singing along with “Kiss the Girl” has never felt so good. It’s a great study break from finals, or just a good way to spend a night in.
4. 25 cent popcorn on Fridays. As Thursday is the new Friday, this may need to be tweaked a little. Nonetheless, Fridays were fantastic as a little kid because you were allowed to take your shiny quarter and get a bag of popcorn in exchange. We always got ours during Reading Time, and it was so great to chomp away while delving into our new Dr. Suess book. Think about how much more excited you’d be for class if you could pause for ten minutes and buy a bag of popcorn in your lecture hall.

Those were some of my favorite parts of my first-ever school days. If you could bring something back, what would it be?