Author: Nicole Biton

 

As the fall semester draws to a close, it’s only natural that we reflect on our last several months here. A semester at Cornell is inevitably filled with highs and lows for everyone, freshmen and seniors alike. But no matter what occurred since August, you assuredly have had some achievements–little victories for which you can celebrate yourself. You have something to pay homage to if you’ve experienced any of the following this semester:

 

1. Passing all of your prelims

 

 

Maybe not all of your grades this semester were stellar—that’s ok, you can’t win them all. As long as you did well enough to pass all your courses, that’s a win.

 

2. Not sleeping through your 8:40s

 

 

The only thing that sucks more than having a super important class really early in the morning is sleeping through that super important class. (Unless you do so intentionally because you never intended to get up that early anyway, in which case this doesn’t apply to you.) If your alarm has been able to rouse you so that you never missed a big lecture, then kudos to you. Now, please. Get some sleep.

 

3. Getting on a first-name basis with your barista

 

 

For those of you who have achieved this milestone (i.e., me!), then you will know how much of a life-changing and important accomplishment this is. Doing well on a prelim is fine I guess, but knowing that someone cares enough about your caffeine addiction to remember both your name and your complicated latte order? That’s better than any A-grade.

 

4. Not running out of BRBs

 

 

Raise your hand if you blew through the majority of your BRBs as a freshman within the first two months of school—yeah, I thought so. Though the likelihood of having BRBs diminishes after freshman year, Cornellians who have this luxury and have figured out how to keep a significant balance on it should congratulate themselves. Whether that newfound economy comes from packing lunch or alternating swipes with a credit card, be proud that you don’t have to explain to your parents that you’ve so quickly maxed out your dining account on Trillium salads.

 

5. Making the Ivy League snap story

 

 

The only thing that may have quelled your anger over Snapchat’s replacement of a Campus Story with an Ivy League one is appearing on the Ivy League story. Cornell may be seriously underrepresented on that feed, but we pay tribute to any contribution made to our social media cred. (And TBH, so long as Gains Guy makes the cut can we really complain?) So if you’ve been fortunate enough to represent our school and make the Ivy League story, then congrats—you’re a star.

 

6. Not having to pull out the winter jacket before Thanksgiving

 

 

OK, admittedly, seventy-degree weather in November is a little concerning, no matter where you are in the Northeast. But the fact that Ithaca’s daily high temperatures have yet to dip into the 30s is kind of a big deal. Make no mistake: winter is definitely coming and will literally take Ithaca by storm. So for now, let’s appreciate our cute fall jackets before the Canada Geese fully take over.

 

7. Avoiding the Cornell Plague(s)

 

 

Being sick at school is the worst. Going to Gannett is the worst. Taking antibiotics and not being able to #turnup is the worst. For those students with golden immune systems, on behalf of Cornell’s chronically-ill population, I salute you.

 

8. Not losing a single fracket

 

 

I guess the point of a fracket is that you shouldn’t mind losing it at a party. But it’s still not fun to walk or cab home in the frigid evening temperatures. Cheers to not having to order cheap, polyester down coats from Target every other week.

 

9. Not losing your Cornell ID

 

 

Of all the identity crises that one experiences in college, this may be the easiest of them to encounter—and the most annoying to resolve. Take pride in yourself if you’ve managed to hold onto yours for the time being. (And bonus points if you didn’t have to keep it on a lanyard!)

 

10. Having (most of) your wits

 

 

Honestly, this can be so questionable at times. Being stressed is an unfortunate part of being in the Cornell hole, but look at you now! Somehow, you’ve made it almost to the end of the semester and halfway through the year. You might have had a breakdown or five in the process (holla), but you somehow kept it together to finish the semester strong. You’re killin’ it.

 

11. Surviving

 

 

It might have been touch-and-go for you this semester, but you made it this far. Go you!

 

Cornell can be a tough place for everyone. With that in mind, it’s so important to take stock in the little things that make our time here a little easier, no matter how trivial they may seem. So think about what you’ve accomplished over these last four months, and keep those achievements in mind for next semester—when you have to do it all again.