It’s 10 p.m. on a Wednesday, the first week of school. The entire dorm floor is walking to Dawgs for the first time, excited to dance. 

The Aggieville lights are approaching, and the sound of boots against concrete and nonstop laughter fills the air. It feels euphoric. Unbelievable, even, that this is your college life, surrounded by so many people.

Flash forward to the second semester of junior year, however, and the image is much different. It’s 10 p.m. on a Wednesday, and the feeling of burnout is approaching. After staring at your computer screen for hours, the stress of landing an internship this summer lingers.

Like most things in life, the more we do them or the longer they go on, the more mundane and less exciting they feel. A whole floor of dorm friends turns into a whole apartment building of strangers. Sharing a meal with a classmate in the Derb turns into sitting alone in a booth in the Union.

Why was freshman year so good?

The excitement of college overtook that entire first year. Everything was new, stimulating and fun. There was always something to do, someone to do it with and the energy was always high.

Football games made for the best Saturdays. There was an entire group, a long, detailed plan and the anticipation for the first Wabash ever, knowing it would surpass all expectations.

However, during junior and senior year, everyone seems to have their groups and is so firm on staying in them. Cliques and comfort zones are limiting lifelong memories and new friendships.

So let’s go back to the bliss! Those purple-colored glasses from freshman year weren’t you being naive or immature. It was pure excitement, independence and freedom that made social interactions feel exciting, with attitudes more uplifted.

Try new things, meet new people and embrace the pride of wearing the Powercat. Start going to the random, free, fun activities UPC puts on. Chat with the person in line behind you at the coffee shop. Smile at people on campus or in passing. One kind interaction could turn into a new friendship, or just a pleasant way to pass the time while waiting for a coffee.

Don’t put yourself into the box you formed freshman and sophomore year.

College is only four years, and it already goes by too fast. Being a Wildcat and going to K-State is a gift that a lot of us forget, and a lot of people wish they had. Manhattan is fun, K-State is fun and college is fun!

Let’s start embracing the bliss again and make our four years here count.