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Things We Definitely Don’t Miss About In-Person Classes

Now that so many classes, clubs, and activities are taking place online due to the coronavirus pandemic, Penn State students will need to do without many aspects of the college experience this fall.

Saturdays in Beaver Stadium, concerts in the Bryce Jordan Center, and rowdy bus rides across town are just a few things that everyone will miss out on for the next few months. One thing we won’t miss, however, is hauling ass across campus for our 8 a.m. classes.

It’s not all bad, though. In fact, there’s a lot we won’t miss about in-person classes this semester.

That Awful Walk To Forum

Do I even need to explain myself? If you’re coming from East Halls or, God forbid, downtown, this is the most treacherous walk on campus. Once I finally make it to my seat, I’m dripping in sweat and my mouth feels like the Sahara Desert. The only thing worse than the walk is forgetting your water bottle and resorting to those crusty water fountains that are older than your parents.

Wacky Weather

Happy Valley isn’t known for its particularly strange weather, but that doesn’t mean weird stuff doesn’t happen. Sudden pop-up thunderstorms or especially freezing-cold (or scorching-hot!) days can really put a damper on your daily routine and turn a normally manageable walk to class into a less-than-ideal affair.

Getting To Thomas 100 Late And Climbing Over People For A Seat

Is there a worse feeling than being late to a class in Thomas 100? Those doors are so damn loud, I swear all 700 students turn around and stare at you like you’ve got two heads. Then, everyone does a 180 and pretends you don’t exist when you try to squeeze into their row.

Using The Shaky Desks In Forum

I didn’t mean for this to turn into a Forum hate post, but it’s just too easy. Taking exams on those tiny, unstable desks is beyond frustrating. Let’s just say I would much rather take an exam from the comfort of my own bed.

Being Shamed By The Willard Preacher

OK, maybe I miss the guy a little bit, but sometimes he can be a real pain. When I’m running on three hours of sleep and half a bagel, the last thing I want is the Willard Preacher yelling something into my ear at the crack of dawn.


This is a very unorthodox semester. It’s easy to dwell on the negatives, but we need to remember the grass is always greener on the other side. In-person classes weren’t always sunshine and rainbows. Besides, there are plenty of things that make online classes amazing, like going to class in your pajamas, for example.

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About the Author

Grace Cunningham

Grace was Onward State’s social media manager once upon a time. She was also the host of Onward State's podcast. You should google "Podward State Wienermobile" for a good laugh. Nowadays, Grace is a copywriter or something. You can reach her at [email protected], although she doesn't know why you would want to.

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