Sh*t I wish I knew

8. You will miss school more than you could ever imagine.

What a gorgeous place to call home.

I just got back from the most amazing 24 hrs spent in Charlottesville with my best friends. It was a night spent reliving our college days, meant to tide us over until we meet again (tentatively planned for September when UVa plays GT in Atlanta--my friends are the best!). I can't think of a better going away night complete with amazing people, drinks, dancing, and wait for it...streaking! Yes I finally streaked the Lawn, one of the things you're supposed to do before you graduate and one of the things that I swore I would never do. Upon hearing this my dad asked me how drunk I was (ok I had a little liquid courage) but it was ultimately just the heat of the moment and the knowledge that I wouldn't be back for a while that led me to stop my protests about how I hate being naked, whip off my clothes, and go sprinting down the lawn before I could think too much about what I was doing. Asked the morning after how it felt to have my streaking cherry popped I could only reply with, "It felt so liberating."

I will say though, it felt so strange coming back to Charlottesville, basically my home for the past 4 years, and feeling like a guest. It was so sad knowing that these really weren't my streets anymore and that I would no longer be seeing them on a daily basis. This caused me to look at and appreciate all the sights and sounds that much more as I tried to imprint everything on my memory. It's funny how I loved everything that much more (even the drunk weird people on the Corner). And of course I did cry as I drove away (and I hardly ever cry!).

I love my custom print via avintageposter.com! Sums it up perfectly

I think my psyche began to subtly prepare me for this nostalgia towards the end of last semester. I began to feel compelled to buy every UVa shirt and sweatshirt available, as I felt my school pride intensify. There's this Counting Crows song that says "don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you got till it's gone?" And as cliche as it is, it's totally true! Looking back I see that I really took my time at UVa/Charlottesville for granted. I didn't explore the city and try all that it has to offer and didn't love my school nearly as much as I should have (I spent a lot of the time hating on the people/douche bag culture). Ughhhh seriously, enjoy your time as much as you can! Explore, discover, and love where ever it is that you're at as much as possible because it's only towards the end of your stay that you realize how much you took for granted.

I'll see you soon UVa!