The University is not perfect. Little problems and complaints seem to float to the surface every day, leaving many people disappointed and irritable. I myself have a small list of complaints about Bulldog country; I can’t say I really enjoy pulling out my superhuman strength to open the doors to Bolton or finally finding an open computer in the Student Learning Center only to get that annoying little “tree” message. But as much as I hate playing musical chairs trying to find a decent computer, I don’t let it ruin my day or make me any less appreciative to be a student at the University. And why should I, when I walk to class through a campus full of smiling faces and gorgeous buildings (OK, except for pretty much all of South Campus, but anything pre-1960 counts)? Call me an extreme optimist — you won’t be the first — but I’ve found a stroll through north campus on a sunny day can cure most worries. Even when I get caught under a downpour on the way to class, I find humor in the fact that I seriously cannot walk in wet flip-flops and that Park Hall actually looks kind of cool under a gray sky. I’m a student just like everyone else and can feel overwhelmed at times, but I know that it’s really stupid of me to let a girl laughing loudly on the phone in the SLC get my heart racing. My day is made better and easier if I step back and try to find the positive in some potentially annoying situations. Why get worked up over a certifiably psycho English teacher when there’s a classroom full of new friends who understand how I feel and have a good laugh about it? Even the most dreary and boredom-inducing lecture can be neat in a 200-year-old classroom.And absolutely no one should feel like they don’t fit in at a university that offers everything from an anime club to a rugby team. Sure, major problems do occur that should be given serious consideration (diversity problems, budget cuts, construction), but the minor stuff shouldn’t make or break our love for the University.Do I find great joy in paying $138 in books for one course? Um, no. But I don’t spend the entire day complaining about it and boycotting course readings (although that might actually be something to consider). Instead I try to remind myself that the teacher seems pretty neat and cultured, so obviously she found something important enough in these readings to want to share them with her students. One of these books could even be interesting enough to break my habit of using class time as an hour-long day-dreaming session. The chances of that happening are about as good as the chance I’ll actually wear matching socks in the winter, but it makes spending all that money seem just a little bit less like I just uselessly blew a month’s worth of grocery money. Anyone who has ever dealt with Parking Services knows that finding the upside is not always easy, but this really is a great place to be. A friendly vibe surrounds the campus, making the University the epitome of southern hospitality. A friend of mine from outside the Bible Belt said warm greetings and smiles were more of a culture shock to him than the accents. I’m proud to be at a university where it is not awkward when you’re one of two people in the elevator. Most professors are willing to help you with a course if you take the time to ask. And who could be unhappy when a break between classes could mean a nice game of frisbee surrounded by buildings 10 times your age? Flaws are abundant at the University, but that doesn’t have to dominate our conversations and thoughts. Our time here is created by what we make of it, and I want to remember mine with a smile. I just try to remember that when I’ve forgotten my umbrella.— Katy Ruth Camp is a junior majoring in sports journalism