As much as I love being a Coug, the first two weeks of spring semester have never been my favorite. I’m sure most students can agree with this top five list.

1. Waking up at typical human hours

When left to my own devices, I become nocturnal. No, really. It’s true. And I can imagine there are a flock of students out there just like me. I start out with the best intentions but without the threat of 8 a.m. class looming over my head, bedtime makes its gradual descent from a reasonable 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. That was all fine and dandy when I could spend the day at my parents’ house in a pair of sweatpants, but now I’m required to actually be places and do things. There’s nothing quite as painful as waking up at 7:30 a.m. when you’re used to crawling out of bed around sunset like some kind of prehistoric-looking cave salamander.

2. Attending class

I don’t know why, but for some reason attending class is the biggest pain in my rear. I pay and sign up for classes yet still manage to be surprised when they are held on time and fill the entity of their allotted space, week after week. What the hell, brain. I should not be outraged by something I made happen. I know I’m not alone, too; two girls in my math class loudly complained about having to attend class on a Friday, because apparently all college students should be graced with 3 day weekends. Anything more is torture and not at all reminiscent of what the “real world” will be like.

3. Dressing yourself

It’s too bad that wearing sweatsuits in public is not more socially acceptable because if it were, I would never take mine off. Over winter break I pretty much forgot how to put make up on or how to compose an outfit. Eventually I forgot altogether what I looked like all dolled up. Getting tasty for class every morning is a mini triumph for most college students.

4. Buying school supplies

I remember when buying school supplies was fun. I got to pick out dinosaur folders, colored pencils, a pencil bag I would never use, rainbow erasers and a full 24-color set of Sharpies. At that point I was prepared to ace a full year of schooling at the hands of an elementary school teacher younger than my parents. Now it’s different. Books easily rack up costs of more than $500 alone, and that does not include class fees, graphing calculators, iClickers, lost Cougar Cards and cheaply made packets from Cougar Copies that lack a cover but somehow cost $50. I think I miss 3rd grade.

5. Cleaning the house

I am slowly coming to terms with the fact that I live like a homeless coke-addled squatter whenever I’m even slightly busy. Class at 9 a.m.? Better not clean the kitchen for a week. Work twice a week for a few hours? The clean clothes can stay in their bag and hey, look! This suitcase works wonders as a dirty clothes hamper. Without regular visitors I’m fairly certain my apartment would slowly transform into the dwelling of the common mountain troll.