Top 10 reasons school is cool

You may remember that I sort of accidentally took a little leave of absence from school. Well, a leave of absence is what the university calls it, but that sort of makes it sound like I had an emotional breakdown or a family emergency. What really happened was that I made an impulsive decision to take a semester off, live at home, work, and intern. A surplus of credits and rapidly accumulating debt made this seem like a wise idea. I don't know if I'd do the same thing over again, but I do know one thing: it's fabulous to be back on campus. It's my last semester of college, and in all likelihood, this is the final chapter of my education. Ever. Is anyone else daunted by the fact that we might never set foot in a classroom again? It scares me, but I try to keep in mind that the real world? Oh, it's got nothing but lessons to teach me. Anyway, here's a top 10.

TOP 10 REASONS SCHOOL IS COOL

10. Lively academic discussion. One of the things I missed the most was all of the thought-provoking new material that whizzes through the brains of college students on a daily basis. We take it for granted, but in a given day, we are exposed to oodles of new information and perspectives. My internship provided me with a lot of opportunity for research, so I got something of an academic fix at least three days a week. I hope that whatever I end up doing, I'll be able to maintain some of my intellectual curiosity. Feeling your brain go dull is no good.

9. No midnight "where r u?" texts from Mom. I thought after three years of college, turning 21, and generally being a responsible pseudo-adult, the days of curfews and angry parents waiting up were behind me. Nope. Apparently as long as I am out of sight at school, I was out of mind. But once I came home, if I went out anywhere--to a movie, to a bar, on a social engagement with a half-hearted stalker-- Mom was in my cell's Inbox demanding to know when I would be home and oh, could I pick up a gallon of milk?

8. The ability to rest. Since I came back to school, I have had 10 times as much free time as I had, cumulatively, during my seven-months at home. Granted, once I find a job, and work and clubs start in earnest, this will be different. But so far, it's been great to sleep and lollygag, even if sometimes the feelings of self-loathing and wastefulness come knocking. I've always heard college students have tons of free time, and never understood why people thought that. Now I do, and I kind of like it.

7. It is acceptable to go places in your jammies. Sometimes getting dressed seems too daunting. Luckily, most days the only place I have to go is class, and am not looking to impress anyone (See number three). So if I want to wear my gym clothes to class on Friday, then I'm going to do it. And if I make it to the gym after class? Double score!

6. I can walk to and from the bars. Turning 21 was largely wasted in my bucolic hometown. A lack of friends, time, and the fact that I had to drive everywhere, put a serious damper on the party in my liver. I am happy to state that since returning to school, the party has resumed, and shows no signs of stopping until a) I run out of money b) I graduate and become a real person c) Dr. Drew Pinsky brings me to rehab.

5. Reaping the benefits of paying through the nose for tuition. The day I tried to log onto LexisNexis and was turned away because I wasn't a currently enrolled student, I threw a mini-tantrum at my intern desk. Granted, we pay good money to go to SU, but when I go to the gym, access hundreds of databases, and lounge around in university buildings, I can almost trick myself into thinking it's free. On a side note, Ashley once suggested that we should get lifetime access to the library's research databases. I totally agree. It is the least they could do for the debt-saddled alum they send into this unforgiving economy.

4.College Pricing. I can get coffee for 85 cents here. My heart misses McLatte, but my wallet has never been happier.

3. Being a spinster is ok! I am not really sure what happened while I was home, but it involved every coworker over 35 inquiring about my love life, and trying to set me up with anything between the ages of 20 and 40. It also involved some confusing situations with suitors and a constant level of nine or 10 on the awkwardness scale. Luckily, I have returned to a land where I am largely invisible to the male eye, and free of constant questions about boyfriends, relationships and marriage. Do I sound like an old maid? Good, because that's exactly what I want to be.

2. They like me, they really like me. Probably the hardest part about being home was the complete lack of socializing. At school, I see people for lunch, class, at parties, everywhere. All my friends are right down the street, and no one bats an eyelash if I send an urgent text demanding coffee and a round of Bananagrams at our favorite hangout. At home this fall, there was no one. Even the friends I've kept in touch with were all in school. The fact that I started watching Dancing with the Stars should give you an idea of how lonesome those months were.

1. Reality is looming, but I only care a little. I've made no bones about the fact that career-wise, I am a lost soul. Journalism isn't doing it for me anymore, and all together, I don't think I can make a career out of writing. At home, all of this seemed more daunting because I had all the time in the world to think about what a failure I could be, or how four years of education has only confused me more. The time has come for me to look for jobs, but at least now I have a career center to help me, and the distraction of classes to keep me from having weekly existential crises. Plus, I need to constantly RSVP to the soirees my liver is having.