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Top 10 Reasons it was great to be a Hoo this year

1. Our basketball team:

Could I write this Top 10 without mentioning our stellar basketball team? To address it quickly: Tony Bennett, you rock and I have faith that your fame will eventually eclipse that of the older and less cool singer-songwriter Tony Bennett. Joe Harris, your good looks continue to astound all of us, even from Cleveland. More generally, this goes out to our team for giving us something to cheer about in the midst of a seriously hard few months here on Grounds. Hoos, you kept our spirits up, our drinks flowing, our morale kicking and pride afloat. You showed us how to gracefully be the underdog, even when we shouldn’t have been. We’ll get ‘em next year.

2. Resilience in the face of adversity:

On a more serious note, it’s hard to overlook the tough year we’ve had. It’s been a tumultuous number of months, and every day I admire how we’ve stuck together as a community through it all. Admittedly, there’s tension, and there always will be with such polarizing events taking place. But, when asking my brother — a senior in high school — for advice about what to include in this article, he said one thing: “Hoo wouldn’t want to be a Hoo?” Preach, little one.

3. Dartying hard in the face of adversity:

On a less serious note, adversity, rain, snow, figures of authority, our tests, our parents, our better judgment and our sanity have not stopped us from appreciating the art of day-drinking. Last weekend, I told myself I was going to study and then ended up riding a slip-n-slide down Mad Bowl. My clothes were soaked and my essay remained unwritten, but people cheered for me when I made it to the bottom, and I got to feel like I truly accomplished something for a few seconds. Considering no one is cheering for me when I finish a problem set, I think I’ll choose dartying.

4. Finding things to Instagram

Now that the Rotunda is under construction, we’ve been hard-pressed to find that always-appropriate, guaranteed-to-get-a-million-likes subject to Instagram. Homer is a homie, but he pales in comparison to the Rotunda’s great columns. Nevertheless, us Hoos have found adequately scenic places to slap filters onto. Take Duck Donuts, for example — a newcomer this spring, the place’s sprinkles have taken the U.Va. ‘gram scene by storm. Are there ducks involved in the making of the donuts? What do ducks have to do with donuts in the first place? Who knows, but it doesn’t seem like anyone gives a duck.

5. Snapchat fame:

With two Snapchat geotags and our own Campus Story, it’s easy to forget the less important things we’re known for, like our strong academic rankings. But, to the mysterious people who run our Campus Story, I have a few points of contention. One, who are you? Two, what do you want? Three, why won’t you post any of the hilarious things I offer, including my friend doing a flabongo (a flamingo beer bong?) Four, why couldn’t you call it a Grounds Story? Seriously, if you don’t post anything of mine soon, I am going to find you.

6. The Snow Day:

Now, one can be a cynic and argue we should have had three snow days, or that the snow day we did have should have been on a different, potentially snowier day. According to Yik Yak, Teresa Sullivan cancelled school upwards of ten times. Shoutout to my mother for teaching me not to believe everything I read, or I would’ve participated in ten false snow days and would be even further back in my readings than I already am. Another shoutout to my mother for teaching me that it’s okay to self-cancel classes and take a mental health day, even if it’s not snowing and the real purpose is to go on a barbeque tour of Charlottesville. Regardless, the snow day was euphoric for most and I’m proud to be a part of fighting the misconception that Southern schools don’t get any snow.

7. Free food:

We all complain about the tablers on the Lawn, but I know it, you know it, and they know it: it’s hard to say no to a free cupcake. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my three years at U.Va., it’s how to avoid eye contact with someone tabling and still successfully grab that homemade brownie. Yes, tablers are supporting definitely worthy causes, but my stomach is also worthy of a candy bar. No offense, EMPSU, but your candy bar isn’t as free as the ones on the Lawn considering I’d have to spend thousands to qualify for the food.

8. People we’ve brought to Grounds:

I obviously can’t speak for everyone, but considering that even my professor went to the Snoop Dogg (Snoop Lion? Snoop Puppy?) concert, I would say Charlottesville’s done a pretty great job with its events this year. Though I’ll admit I may have peaked running down the Lawn in pursuit of Britney Spears my second year (she wasn’t here… oops). Kevin Spacey and Ed Helms aren’t too shabby either. We’ve gotten high quality comedians, celebrities, political figures, musical acts and inspiring speakers — all of whom have made Grounds a more interesting place.

9. Tolerance of clothing choices:

Yesterday, I wore a t-shirt that was longer than my shorts. Some thought it was a seriously fashionable dress, others thought I forgot to put on pants and many thought I had lost my mind. Though the latter party may be 87% correct (personal upkeep is hard during finals), no one judged me. The great thing about it? I passed girls in dresses and heels, men in suits, people in gym clothing and some much more fashionable. Sure, sometimes I clash enough to physically strain eyes, but I haven’t been kicked out of U.Va. or any classes for it yet. Of course, I’m not clueless — the hunter green of the ever-prevalent Barbour is just that: ever-prevalent. But I am proud that we do a good job being so tolerant of whatever anyone wants to wear, Barbour or no Barbour.

10. Academics:

Where else but this great University can you sign up for a humanities class guaranteed by your engineering friend — who has no experience outside Thornton Hall — to be an easy A, and then end up with a B-? Did you do the readings? Probably not. Did you think the snow day meant all subsequent classes were cancelled? Probably. Is it your fault that you got a bad grade? Up for interpretation. If this doesn’t speak to the quality of our academics and our students’ dedication to enrich their lives across many disciplines, I don’t know what does.

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