As much as I love fall, it's arrival is always garnished with a tinge of bittersweet.
I miss school.
And that's all there is to it. I miss it so very, very much. And I can't help but feel a little left behind whenever I see my friends headed back to the campus toting their backpacks and trepidation and/or excitement for the upcoming semester. I always thought I would be that perpetual student that just kept getting degrees solely for the satisfaction of taking 
all kinds of classes. But here I am, two--almost three--years out of college, and I haven't gone back. It's a bummer, to say the least, and I envy you students out there terribly.
Fall should be a time of freshly shaved pencils, new backpacks, brightly colored walks across campus, absurdly crowded shuttle rides up the hill,
and lunches in the USU marketplace with Emily. It shouldn't be sitting around by myself while my friends go to school or gallavant across Europe on study abroads.
Bottom line, I'd sell my body and/or first born child and/or all earthly possessions to go back to school. Which leads me to this simple message:
To my dear scholarly friends fortunate enough to be enrolled, I say don't take it for granted. School is completely where it's at. I promise that the real world isn't as shiny and exciting as it may seem. Careers are a total bust. 8 hours a day, day in day out, and never making as much money as your worth is definitely not as pleasant as going to class, late hours in the library, and madness of the friendship kind. 
Relish those hours in class taking notes. Revel in the chance to explore everything life has to offer and take as many classes as you can. At this point, you are in the most fortunate position of an open-ended life, and that's something to live up. School is the best. And you are so lucky to be where you are.
Feel free to disagree with me, as I'm sure most of you will, but I refuse to believe that the real world is better than school. So, live it up for me, all you crazy collegiates. You're having the time of your life. You might just not know it.
I totally agree! Although of the college sort, I wasn't so good at actually doing homework and passing classes. I really get a serious longing at this time of year, though, to go shopping for bic pens, college-ruled, spiral notebooks, all clean and waiting to be written in, and new shoes! I'm having to live it all vicariously through my kindergartener son. Somehow, it's not quite the same.
I also agree. I loved college. I love school. This is why I'm a teacher. The anticipation on all those new and shiny kids is so exciting. I have to admit that the year I quit teaching (right after I had Meg), I cried when I saw the kids walking to school. I would also love to go back to school sometime. I love to learn and I have many interests.