Top 10 Things for Students to do While Waiting in Line for Coffee

I wrote this article for the Sheridan Sun back when I was still a college kid. Ah, I miss those days. But, alas, I loved writing this and I still believe it applies today! I mean, who doesn't get bored as all heck while waiting in line for a hot delicious beverage from Tim Hortons? The Lord (and perhaps Santa Claus) only knows how many medium french vanilla cappuccinos I put back during my University/College years. So, for all you college kids who read my blog (and there must be at least one, am I right?) or for any body who gets as insanely bored as I do while waiting in -any- kind of line, here's some ideas to make your time waiting a little less tedious.

Besides the basic necessities of food, water, shelter and sleep, college students soon discover the importance of coffee for their daily survival. Whether it is to combat hellish early morning classes, the disastrous side effects of all-night partying, or to simply refresh one’s self after pulling an all-nighter, coffee soon becomes a trusted ally for many students. However, attaining this holy grail of sustenance becomes exasperating when one must stand in vast line-ups that seem to never end. In order to pass the time waiting in line for that anticipated first sip of the day, here are 10 amusing activities to partake in:


1. Attempt to start a round of the popular song, “100 bottles of beer on the wall” with the people in line around you. For an additional challenge, change 100 bottles to 1 million and giggle when the Animation, Arts and Design students have difficulty counting past 100.

2. Stare at other people in line with a big grin on your face. Do not look away even if they look at you. Your large, stupid smile will completely freak people out and make them question what really did happen last night.

3. In your loudest voice chant, “the ants go marching one by one hurrah, hurrah” every time the line moves ahead.

4. If you’re a journalism student bring a microphone and begin randomly interviewing people in line for practice. If you’re an interior design student think of ways to improve the ambiance and lighting within Tim Horton’s or Second Cup to enhance the company’s image. If you’re a cosmetology student brainstorm ways to make current employees as sexy as possible. If you are any other student, catch up on homework, slacker!

5. Mime.

6. Compare and contrast the characters of James T. Kirk and Jean-Luc Picard. Vehemently argue that one is actually Hamlet, while the other is King Lear. Proceed into a long rant claiming that Worf is, in actuality, Ophelia.

7. Conjure up a conversation with the nearest history buff and begin referring to all prominent historical figures by nicknames. For instance, rename George Washington, “Georgie” and Ben Franklin, “Sparky.”

8. Locate a student enrolled in Art History and discuss why Michelangelo got to be a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle while Van Gogh didn’t. For argument’s sake, consider whether Van Gogh would have used nunchucks or a pair of katanas.

9. Randomly blow in people's hair, and when they turn around, look away (preferably giving the person next to you a strange look.)

10. Draw a box on the ground with chalk, and tell everyone that this is your personal space. Do this every time the line moves up. This will really intrigue any students interested in psychology.

If you follow these entertaining and time-consuming activities, that cherished coffee will be yours in no time at all (if you haven’t already been escorted away by campus police.) Enjoy!

- Jennie