Springtime at Penn State means blooming flowers, stunning greenery and warm weather. But for some of us, it also means stuffy noses, puffy eyes and a constant, congested headache. Campus in the spring is beautiful, but with it comes pollen — and lots of it. For those of us who suffer from allergies, springtime in Happy Valley often goes a little something like this:
You wake up and realize something feels different
Are you sick? Do you have a hangover?
Then it hits you… its pollen.
So, we meet again.
In the time it takes to get out of bed, your allergies have already taken over
Hello, red eyes and red nose.
And walking to class is a sneeze-filled struggle with the flowers in bloom
Have you ever sneezed so many times you feel like you’re floating?
Everyone around you is celebrating the return of warm weather
Isn’t spring supposed to be when everything comes to life?
And as you walk into class, they politely ask, “How are you?”
Just smile through the pain.
Your eyes are so red and itchy that at least five people ask if you’re okay
Okay, maybe I am crying a little bit.
And your friends without allergies try to be sympathetic
“It can’t be that bad, right?”
But then they realize just how sniffly and snuffly you really are
It’s safe to say the 12th time you sneezed crossed the line.
And as the days wear on, all you really want is a good night’s sleep
If only you could actually breathe at night.
You take your allergy pills and get some much-needed relief
Benadryl forever.
But the congestion, red eyes and headache return with a vengeance
Why are you so obsessed with me?
So you learn to take joy in the little, congestion-free moments
Don’t you love when your nose actually works?
Because despite your allergic-disposition, you’ll make it through somehow
You got this!
In the words of Jean Ralphio Saperstein…
Never bad advice.
On the bright side, spring means summer is already on its way. Hang in there, collegiette!