I’ve always been a big believer in making lists. When I was deciding which college to go to, I made a list. When I broke up with my first boyfriend, I made a list. When I go to the store, I make a list – but that’s just a given.
Lists just make things so much more manageable. They add clarity to a situation that you just can’t get from contemplating, discussing or even ranting. Which is why, with my graduation and leaving Davis approaching, I have made a list.
But I wanted to stray from the usual type of list most people make. I get the feeling that there is a lot of reminiscing and tears around this time, and I’m hoping to make this transition easier, not evoke fond memories that will make me want to cling to my bike, screaming for a fifth year. So, after all the wonderful things I’ve written about Davis, and in an attempt to avoid the weepy nostalgia, I think it’s time I explored the things I won’t miss.
Annoying classmates. Does graduating mean leaving behind all those annoying, pretentious people who raise their hand in class simply to hear themselves speak? Or those who honestly think that what they have to say will interest everyone because they can’t fathom that someone wouldn’t like hearing how they think every intellectual idea can be connected to World of Warcraft? Please tell me yes, because if I have to sit in a room full of these people for much longer, I (or some of them) might not make it out alive.
Terrible weather. I don’t know what I’m going to do with all those scarves and gloves I bought freshman year, but I am happy that I most likely won’t need them for a very long time. With an average annual rainfall of about 14 inches in Los Angeles, I can reinstate my year-round flip-flops habit.
Winter quarter. Let’s face it: just plain depressing.
Bugs. Davis has an unusual amount of bugs. They seem to creep into your room and infest the most inconvenient places. I’ve definitely had several bugs fly into my eyes while riding my bike, and I make it a rule to never have conversations while riding in order to keep my mouth firmly shut. The pollution in Los Angeles seemed to make it an inhospitable place for many insects.
Freshmen. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t dislike freshmen. I just dislike the things freshmen do sometimes, like not knowing how to ride their bikes properly or stumbling around drunk and belligerent on a Tuesday morning.
Group projects. I have this crazy idea that once you hit grad school, you no longer have to take part in group projects. Of course, I had the same idea about high school and college, and you must know how disappointing that turned out to be.
Freshman 15 … and sophomore 15 and junior 15. Having to spend the summer working off what I ate while writing papers until 5 a.m. is not the best way to spend vacation. At least it gave me something to do when I couldn’t find a summer job.
Davis time. If I remember correctly, things in L.A. don’t consistently close at a ridiculously early hour. No longer will I have to go to Pita Pit if I am hungry after 10 p.m. And Target won’t have to be my go to if I’m bored out of my mind (although, my friend Kay and I have had some great times there wandering through the entertainment section). If you have a couple of years left, I highly suggest this idea. With an open mind and spirit for window shopping, this could turn out to be better than wandering around downtown or biking to Safeway.
Unfortunately, DANIELLE RAMIREZ will miss her friends Alix, Brad, Emily, Jenni, Justin, Lauren and Michelle. If you’re not mentioned, it’s not that she won’t miss you, it’s that you didn’t endlessly harass her to put your name in her column. To change your position on self-promotion, e-mail her at dramirez@ucdavis.edu.
