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It seems hard to believe the semester has already hit the halfway point, but, sure enough, Family Weekend has arrived. Over the next few days, swarms of parents will infest the entire UA campus, making many students happy and causing several others to want to pull their hair out.
If you have family coming this weekend, awesome. Enjoy the many family-oriented activities the UA has to offer while catching up with mom and pop or whoever comes into town.
Unfortunately, many families cannot make it down to Tucson this weekend. If you have no loved ones coming to town, don’t fret—there are still plenty of ways to enjoy the weekend. Southern Arizona offers endless possibilities, but these are only some ideas to take a break from the myriad of family-centered events.
1. Go hiking
Tucson has many wonderful hiking locations throughout the area’s several mountain ranges.
Although Outdoor Adventures plans on hosting a moonlight hike for Family Weekend, it might be nice to do your own thing.
From Tumamoc Hill to Sabino Canyon, nothing soothes the soul more than a peaceful trek through nature.
If you haven’t yet had a chance to check out a Tucson hiking trail, try connecting with nature and explore one of our many walkable desert landscapes.
2. Make friends with other lonely students
Even if you start to feel like the loneliest soul on the entire campus this weekend, an existential crisis looming ahead, things will still work out.
You just need to find other students who also face the fate of a family-free weekend.
This will allow you to enjoy the next couple of days while making new friends in the process. Honestly, what would you rather have: a few days with your family, who you have already spent most of your life with, or a lifelong friendship bond forged from a bond of family-less woes?
The choice seems pretty obvious.
3. Watch some football
The Wildcats will take on USC this Saturday, and what better way to spend the weekend than watching some good old American football?
Although many students will attend the game with their families, don’t let that stop you from having a great time in the Zona Zoo. Just grab some friends, or even go by yourself if those friends have too many family obligations. Who says sports can’t be a solo activity?
4. Catch up in school
Teachers never seem to take Family Weekend into account when assigning homework and exams, ensuring that all students taking part will fall behind come Monday.
With no family, you can get ahead on your homework, study for exams or write some essays, taking your mind off your weekend loneliness and getting ahead on all things related to school. If you take this route, just know that you will have the advantage at the end, as opposed to the family weekenders all filled with the regret of a completely unproductive weekend.
5. Find a new family
Alright, so maybe you shouldn’t completely disown your family for not showing up this weekend, but regardless, you might as well make the most of your freedom.
Venture out and find a temporary family for the weekend. The easiest and most efficient way to do this is to see if you can hang out with a friend’s family during the weekend and attend the weekend events with them, thus becoming an honorary member of their family.
If this doesn’t work out, just put up some “WANTED: TEMPORARY FAMILY” signs around campus, and you will be amazed at the response you’ll get from families looking to temporarily take on new members.
We’re all on big Wildcat family after all, right?
Follow Alec Kuehnle on Twitter
