Top 5 Thursdays - My College Years

You may remember a previous Top 5 Thursdays post entitled "90's on 9", where I shared my love for 90's music.  The title refers to my favorite station on XM Radio.  However, there are two other stations that have me quite nostalgic lately - Lithium and Pop2K.  Lithium is filled with 90's alternative rock, such as Oasis, Nirvana, Soundgarden and Jane's Addiction, to name a few.  It takes me back to a time (1996 - sophomore year of high school) where I wore a lot of flannel and secretly wanted to die streaks of my hair black.

Pop2K, on the other hand, plays early 2000's pop music, such as pre-shaved head, cray-cray Britney Spears ("Oops! I Did It Again"), Destiny's Child ("Say My Name"), 'NSync ("It's Gonna Be Me"), etc.  And THIS, my friends, reminds me of the tail-end of my college years.  And admittedly, I've done a lot of thinking lately about "College Meghan" and "Current Meghan".  And WOW, are there some differences.  Physically, I no longer have blonde hair, and am definitely a good 15-20 pounds lighter than I was in 2000.  These days, my weekends consist of going to bed at 9:00 on Friday evenings, and I no longer consider anything that comes in a can a quality beverage. 

 (Umm, yuck.  I seriously used to love places like this...)

But there ARE some things I miss about my college years, like...

5.) The fact that eating Taco Bell at 10:00 a.m. on a Sunday was socially acceptable.

4.) That sometimes, a box of wine and a game of Scrabble on a Tuesday night was the perfect way to study for an exam.  This is really a metaphor for living in the moment and embracing opportunities to make new friends.

3.) Sharing closets with 20, 30, 40+ other women.  (Stephanie, I totally miss your tank tops!)

2.) My sisters.  Yes, I was in a sorority.  And I loved every minute of it.  I was very active, and served as Philanthropy Coordinator, Vice-President of Standards (If you knew me then, you're STILL mesmerized by this), Social Chair, and Nominating Committee Chair.  This organization made me a better person.  They embraced me for who I was, faults and all, and continue to do so to this day.  Never have I seen such a diverse group of women act with such grace and integrity on a daily basis. 

1.) Freedom!  College was a time where I was able to stay up until 3:00 a.m. listening to music with a good friend, treat myself to a warm cookie at the student union in the middle of the afternoon, go for a long run, dance the night away at a party, take a random road trip to Indianapolis and stalk 'NSync, etc.  I am sure many of you were able to do things without any regard to lack of sleep, money or food:) 

While my college years were a blast, I am not sure I care to relive the personal identity crisis I suffered, or the heartbreak, or the hangovers.  But in those moments, there were many lessons I will carry with me for the rest of my life.  Like the fact that Taco Bell is good at any hour of the day.

What do you miss about your college years?

(images via weheartit)