Realizing you took the free food for granted.
REALIZING YOU TOOK THE FREE FOOD FOR GRANTED.
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Remember those endless options, the vibrant hum of conversation, the distinct aroma of institutionally-prepared comfort food? Whether a hurried breakfast before a morning lecture, a leisurely lunch dissecting the latest philosophical debate, or vital midnight snacks fueling a last-minute paper, the campus dining halls were more than just places to eat. They were central hubs, command centers for collaboration, confessionals for late-night anxieties, and unwitting witnesses to countless friendships. We navigated salad bars, perfected waffle-making, and sometimes complained about the repetitive menu, all while never truly grasping the immense, unassuming privilege.
Then graduation hit. The cap and gown came off, and suddenly, so did the all-you-can-eat buffet. The real world introduced grocery budgeting, the complex art of meal prepping, and the stark reality that no one stocked the communal fridge with artisanal cheeses and cold brew. That seemingly mundane, ever-present access to sustenance transformed from a background hum into a vivid, almost painful memory. The realization often dawns, mid-shop in an overpriced urban grocery store, that those "free" meals were an invisible luxury, a foundational support allowing us to pour energy into academics and growth, unburdened by daily feeding.
It’s not just the food we miss, but the effortless convenience, the communal atmosphere, the unspoken bond formed over shared tables. Those cafeteria moments were threads in the rich tapestry of our formative years. They weren't just meals; they were milestones, fueled by endless coffee and questionable pizza, etched into our collective memory. We didn’t just eat there; we lived, learned, and grew there. Looking back, the true value of those "free" meals wasn't just caloric; it was foundational to our entire university experience.