Addictions of a college student

You, too, will soon become addicted and it won't be long before you find yourself constantly updating your profile and checking your messages every five minutes to see if that "old friend" from your past has written you back.

Weekly television programs: For a weekly just-like-you're-at-home feeling, many college students are addicted to one or two television programs.

Most students have cable hooked up in their dorm rooms, but those who don't can watch in their floor's common suite. From "American Idol" to "24" to my personal favorite, "America's Next Top Model," there are people watching must-see programs seven days a week during college. With all the studying we college students do, our programs give us a nice break from the stress of college life and help us carry on.

Don't confuse one show addicts with television addicts, though. We're two different types of people.

Caffeinated drinks: Be it coffee, soda or Starbucks espresso shots, college students are addicted to anything caffeinated. Some argue the drug is the only remedy to a long night of studying, but I'm beginning to suspect they just want to look cool hanging out in the campus cafes.

Regardless of what kindles the addiction, I've seen some honest people get sucked into this costly habit. So don't let this happen to you — just make sure you get enough sleep. Oh, what am I saying? Caffeine is the only answer. Pass the cream and sugar.

Pets and mothers: It seems absence does in fact make the heart grow fonder, particularly in regards to college students' dogs and home-cooked meals. Since coming to Barnard, I've never heard the words "the best" and "the greatest" tossed around so loosely. It seems that no matter who you ask, leaving for college forced them to leave "the cutest dog ever" and their mom "who is the best cook ever." If only those back home could hear them now, they'd probably ask why they never walked the adorable dog or why they were never home for the amazing dinners.

Nonetheless, I've witnessed several heated arguments between people convinced their parents are the next Wolfgang Puck or Alice Waters and their dog could win Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show without a wink of sleep. When will the madness stop?

Cleanliness: College students, particularly first-years, are confined to a very small space within their dorms. So you can understand why it is extremely important to stay neat and tidy.

Lucky for me, my roommate Hannah came prepared, hauling Lysol, Windex and a Swiffer mop with her from New Jersey. Although health is certainly a concern, most students tend to clean when they have something really important to do, such as write an essay or study for a test.

Unlike watching television or browsing myspace.com, cleaning appears to be a productive use of one's time and so students don't feel bad if they are wasting their time cleaning. You should see my room — it's impeccable.

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Happy belated birthday to my daddy, Michael Kallis! The big day was on Sunday but he's a sucker for seeing his name in print. I was home last week for Spring Break (I picked my family over Daytona Beach, what can I say?) so I got to be in on the celebration even if it was six hours early. My flight back to NYC was early Sunday morning so we had the party Saturday night.

My dad is a super cook and very particular about his ingredients, so we gave him a-grow-it-yourself herb garden, complete with a bag of the finest dirt. Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme should be shooting up just about when I come home at the end of the semester in May. Gardeners of the world, unite! Spring is definitely here.

Grace Kallis is a graduate of Aragon High School. She is currently attending Barnard College in New York City. Her column, Graceland, appears every other Tuesday. If you have some news you'd like to send Grace's way, e-mail her at gk2143@barnard.edu.