Surviving Drexel University’s quarter system requires a lot of small joys to keep students motivated from Week 1 to Week 11. This list gathers 100 of those lifelines that make Drexel life a little lighter for me.
1. The Phillies – While controversial, the Phillies are my favorite Philadelphia sports team. I cannot think of anything that takes my mind off of schoolwork like watching a Phillies game. Whether they are winning or losing, they always give me something to talk about. The Phillies offer a sense of community and excitement that takes away all other stressors.
2. Late-night walks – When Drexel classes feel relentless, late-night walks become a staple. The quiet street and the skyline seem to slow down time and give me a minute to breathe and remember that life is not just about assignments.
3. Friends – Friends are the glue that holds Drexel students together. They turn stressful days into shared experiences and remind me I am not in this alone.
4. Having a 9 a.m. cancelled – No explanation needed.
5. Finding a student organization you enjoy – Becoming a member of anything is extremely rewarding. Clubs and activities distract me from school and bring me together with people who share my interests.
6. Late-night talks – Once I have reached a certain point of exhaustion, every conversation feels like it is of the utmost importance, and sometimes it is! These talks are the ones that strengthen friendships and make life seem a little more manageable.
7. When professors curve exams – In a system where exams come up so quickly, a curve can genuinely save my grade and sanity.
8. Music – There are only a few moments in my day when I am not playing music. Whether I am walking to class, studying, or in the shower, I am always listening to something, and I truthfully do not think I could handle 10-week terms without it.
9. Mantua cat park – I walked to the cat park for the first time during Week two and have since befriended various cats who will sit with me until I am ready to face the world again. After reading the Triangle article about the Mantua cat park, it has become a second home.
10. The Triangle – The Triangle is my favorite place to read prominent news, hear about what Drexel students have to say, and read comics that will truly make me laugh. The Triangle offers a sense of perspective that helps me step outside of academic chaos for a moment.
11. Reading Terminal Market – When I am stressed out from classes, sometimes I feel like I should stress myself out even more and go to Reading Terminal Market. However, the hustle and bustle often feels energizing rather than overwhelming. All the sights and smells pull me out of my academics and remind me that there is a whole city just outside the Drexel bubble.
12. Seeing dogs (and the occasional cat) on Lancaster walk – At home, my pets were always something I could turn to for support. Like most college students, I miss my pets more than anything. Seeing city dogs always reminds me of my own, which never fails to make me smile.
13. An empty laundry room – After a long day of classes, the very last thing I want to do is do my laundry. What is worse than doing laundry after a long day is lugging your laundry basket downstairs, and there are no washers open. When the laundry room is empty and there are a plethora of washers to choose from, it feels like the world is finally giving me a break.
14. Sleeping through an alarm but still making it to class – Not waking up to an alarm is one of the most stressful ways to start the day. Having to throw on clothes and sprint across campus is not an enjoyable experience, but the one thing that can make it better is making it to class right before the professor begins.
15. Movie nights – Stepping away from work and spending time around a shared laptop, watching on a projector, or going to the theater allows me to connect with my friends. I love to share movies I enjoy and see what makes other people happy, movie nights do just that!
16. Submit an assignment just before 11:59 PM – I try my best not to procrastinate, but sometimes it is unavoidable. When I am working down to the wire all night, the most satisfying and stress-releasing thing is turning in your assignment right before the deadline.
17. Center City at night – Whether I am walking with my friends or just admiring from my bedroom window, Center City has a way of reminding me that there is more to life than whatever is stressing me out in the moment.
18. Wawa – Being from New Jersey means that Wawa is more than just a convenience store; it is a lifestyle. Wawa has always been there for me and will always be the place I turn to get hoagies, chips, and drinks.
19. Working heat/AC units – In the summer months, I would stand in front of the heating and cooling unit to dry my sweat after walking miles in the 100 – degree heat. During the colder winter months, I can sit comfortably in my room without wrapping myself in blankets. When my room is actually the right temperature, everything feels more manageable.
20. Instant ramen – Instant ramen is a college staple; it is cheap, quick, warm, and not Urban Eatery.
21. Celebrating small wins – Sometimes the quarter system feels so stressful because course grades depend on a small number of assignments. Getting a bad grade on one of these assignments can be extremely disheartening. To combat these negative feelings, I try to pat myself on the back for even small things. Celebrating small wins reminds me that I can do things and I am capable of success.
22. Watching students sketch Main Building – One of my favorite things about Drexel is that each student has a drive and passion for something. Watching Westphal students sketch and do their assignments is so fascinating; it allows me to slow down and admire the campus from their perspective.
23. TikTok breaks – I would like to say I only watch a few videos when I take breaks between assignments, but somehow I always fall down a rabbit hole and scroll for upwards of 20 minutes. These breaks should not help as much as they do, but they give me enough of a break to keep going later.
24. Sweet treats – The 7/11 on Lancaster Walk is truly my saving grace when I am feeling stressed or down. Running across the block to grab a pint of ice cream or a bag of candy will always cheer me up.
25. Running up the art museum steps – No matter the time of day, there will always be someone at the art museum running up the steps and throwing their fists in the air once they reach the top. I usually walk to the top, but once I am up there, I feel like I belong in this city. I will often sit on the fountain just behind the Rocky statue and look down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, admiring our beautiful city.
26. The Eagles
27. The Flyers
28. Seeing Mario around campus
29. Getting dinner somewhere other than Urban Eatery
30. Saxbys
31. Dining Dollars
32. Federal Donuts and Chicken
33. Philly Cheesesteaks
34. The Mummers Parade
35. Late-night Insomnia Cookie runs
36. Drexel basketball games
37. Getting free stuff around campus
38. Squirrels on Lancaster walk
39. SEPTA being on time
40. Getting a student discount
41. The smell of food trucks
42. The excitement of a snow day announcement
43. Philly pretzels
44. Seeing Drexel memes on Instagram
45. Reading Drexel subreddits
46. Group project members doing their share of work
47. TA’s helping to save my grade
48. Walking along the Schuylkill River Trail
49. Hearing people yell “Go Birds!”
50. Dragonfly Wi-Fi working
51. Sitting by the big window in LeBow
52. Google Calendar
53. Canvas notifications
54. Professors who post lectures
55. Office hours
56. Having an enjoyable class
57. Extra credit
58. All-nighters
59. Naps
60. Getting halal between classes
61. Energy Drinks
62. Coffee
63. The library during finals week
64. Group suffering
65. The phrase, “It’s only 10 weeks.”
66. Professors accepting late work
67. The sunset reflecting off One Liberty Place
68. Seeing grades posted (or not)
69. Passing an exam I was sure I failed
70. Academic validation
71. Not having to explain to people how the quarter system works
72. Watching Westphal students carrying comically large projects
73. Shake Shack milkshakes
74. Class ending early
75. Someone telling me, “Good job.”
76. The Korman Center
77. Discovering a new place in the city
78. Always being able to rely on Urban pizza when there is nothing else
79. Discovering a new favorite food spot
80. Getting into bed at the end of the day
81. Feeling excited about the future
82. Finding my people
83. Feeling prepared
84. Avoiding a tour group
85. The library being quiet
86. Professors learning my name
87. Group chats where we only rant about class
88. Working out at the DAC
89. Admiring murals
90. Seeing the skyline from a tall building
91. Significant others
92. Syllabus week
93. When the exam has the exact question I studied
94. Sitting next to friends during a lecture
95. Seeing the Jedi Club practice
96. Free Drexel merch
97. Last-minute plans
98. Game nights
99. Running into people I know between classes
100. Successfully registering for the classes I wanted/needed for next term