One of my earliest memories at Trinity was attending an open mic night in the Skyline cafe hosted by the Trinity Review. It was a cozy space, filled with students of all years “” in fact, it was probably the first event I went to that wasn’t focused on acclimation and icebreakers for first-years. What was even more bizarre than being surrounded by so many upperclassmen was that, for some Godforsaken reason, I had decided to sign up to perform. I didn’t have any material prepared, just the misguided notion that I would think of something clever in time.

I didn’t. I was flying blind. They called me up to the mic, after announcing that my bit would be the last of the night “” no pressure. I stood up, mind clear of anything even remotely funny, and with a waver in my voice I did the one thing I do best: complain about my hometown and high school football.

I got a few solid laughs, I’d say. I obviously wasn’t the most hilarious person to ever grace Trinity’s halls “” hell, I wasn’t even the funniest person of the night “” but seeing people smile and laugh at my dumb jokes made me feel for a moment like I was the funniest man alive. And, maybe more interestingly, it taught me something about Trinity that I wasn’t expecting.

Believe it or not, Trinity is a pretty funny place, and not just because of our obsession with a herd of feral cats roaming around campus or our ability to internally justify being late to any class for any reason. Campus is full of passionately funny people, and with a little digging, it’s possible to find several opportunities “” and even a group or two “” in which to be funny, learn to be funny or even just enjoy the comic stylings of your fellow students.

For the aspiring stand-up comedians, San Antonio is dotted with places where you can hone your humor against a crowd. Olmos Pharmacy and The Cove, two restaurants close to campus, host regular open mic nights that are perfect for those looking to crack some jokes outside of the Trinity bubble. For those looking for a more critical crowd, the nearby Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club hosts open mic nights weekly “” folks there may be tougher to please, but know that you’ll have earned every laugh you get.

Of course, no comic is an island. For those who are looking for a communal comedy setting, I humbly recommend Trinity’s improv scene. There have been several troupes that have hosted events during my brief year at Trinity: the First Time Offenders come to mind, as does the group Fiscally Responsible. Though their names may change, the campus improv groups are consistently some of the most entertaining and welcoming people on campus.

It’s easy to get caught up in the seriousness of college life, let alone the general transition into adulthood. On the decent chance that you find yourself ragged from the daily grind, remember that you’re not alone, and it’s never hard to find someone who will crack jokes about life’s hurdles with you.

Laugh, and Trinity’s students will laugh with you. Stay funny, everybody.