Now that the Fourth of July and Arts Fest have both come and gone, the summer will be over before we know it. Whether you’re itching to get out of your house or praying for an eternal August, we’ll all be headed back to Happy Valley soon enough. To some, this might be reason to fret, nervous and unsure what to expect with the changing leaves and turning season. For others, it’s hard to contain the excitement knowing that early Saturday mornings, big Penn State sweatshirts, and Old Main’s notorious chime are all just around the corner.

Freshmen: here’s a whole world of things that you can be excited for come your arrival in State College. Returning students: get hype, you know what to expect and we know you’re ready. Or, if maybe you’re not so ready, now’s the time to get excited because, as it turns out, there’s tons to look forward to.

Football

It’s probably the first thing that came to your mind so let’s just mention it now. Fall in Happy Valley is undeniably associated with Penn State football. The weather is still slightly warm and gradually cooling to a comfortable climate, you’re reunited with your pals, and life’s good again. You could show up to a football game completely unrelated to Penn State, but as long as you’re flaunting blue and white, you’ll be loved.

And there’s reason to be optimistic this year: Penn State returns a talented offense, James Franklin has implemented his system, and at last a full roster should build upon last year’s up and down season (even though your roster cheat-sheet better have numbers listed if you’re hoping to name-drop players on the highlight reel).

Tailgating

Tailgating is an art in-and-of itself. You don’t have to be the biggest football fan to wake up at 8 a.m. to tailgate a noon kick — you do it out of your love for Dear Old State. In my opinion, THIS is where the real bonding and good times happen. Everyone is excited to head into the stadium, music is blasting, delicious food is on the grill, and ideally you’re just lounging on a lawn chair without a care in the world.

The Class Of 2019

The incoming freshman class, the Class of 2019. Just saying it out loud feels bizarre and foreign, but it’s true. An entirely new herd of fresh-faced students will be starting soon enough. Though sophomore year is still the age of underclassmen, surely the Class of 2018 will enjoy moving up the Penn State totem pole and graduating from being East Halls bottom-feeders. A new round of students is exciting no matter how you look at it. With so many new faces parading around campus, surely some of them will be cool, right?

New Classes

Whether you found yourself waking up at the crack of dawn most days for class, or you consistently enjoyed sleeping in, odds are your class schedule from last semester became monotonous at some point or another. But every new semester brings new classes, new peers to meet, and hopefully a better classroom. And better yet? Your grades reset, only to ultimately potentially cause a new round of stress.

Syllabus Week

Ah, the beloved Sylly Week. Your professors will most likely spend the first week of classes introducing you to the course material and easing you into the classwork (or at least let’s hope). This leaves you with less homework and more time on your hands. More time on your hands means time for partying. And when the whole campus has more time on its hands? A week of partying on school nights ensues.

But remember, be careful, take it slow, and follow our survival guide.

Sheetz Opening On Pugh Street (Diehard Wawa Fans: Disregard This)

Oh Sheet! Honestly, I’m not quite as passionate about my gas station convenience stores as some. However, a new Sheetz opening downtown will surely be exciting for many. Perhaps your tried and true visits to Good 2 Go, The Mix, Au Bon Pain, The Creamery (you get the point), have become boring. With a new Sheetz, you have a new place to buy your paninis, milkshakes, and packs of gum! What more could you ask for?

Clubs, Organizations, And THON Committees

Tired of your current slate of campus involvements or looking to get involved for the first time? Every semester brings heavy recruitment periods for many organizations and clubs. Make sure to check out the involvement fair in the HUB and other activities and information sessions going on around campus. THON committee applications are reviewed in the fall, an exciting time for anyone interested in helping plan for Penn State’s biggest weekend of the year.

The HUB Lawn

When tractors dismantled the Penn State bookstore at the end of the semester, it looked as though it was ready to return to normal. However, the construction only got messier. With tractors and tons of hours being put into the refurbishment of the HUB lawn, we can hopefully look forward to it being back and greener than ever come fall. Who knows, maybe you’ll even give up your usual tanning spot on Old Main.

If you’re bummed about sitting around at home, don’t worry because fall will be here before you know it! On the other hand, if you’re dreading going back to school this August, enjoy summer because it sure is great…but fall in Happy Valley, especially football weekends, are a special time. There’s few reasons not to be excited.