As time continues on and the future begins to rear its head, it’s nice to look back and reminisce on the simpler times — those simpler times being elementary and middle school with their bright colors and lack of existential crises.

Nostalgia’s origin started off negatively with the original 1770 definition being “severe homesickness considered as a disease,”. The word nostalgia was created by combining two Greek words; nostos (homecoming) and algos (pain). In modern times nostalgia holds a more positive connotation.

An article by John Tierney in the New York Times shows that a splash of positive nostalgia is good for the soul. It can fight off those negative emotions that bring people down and can make people feel closer with one another.

“Nostalgia has been shown to counteract loneliness, boredom and anxiety. It makes people more generous to strangers and more tolerant of outsiders. Couples feel closer and look happier when they’re sharing nostalgic memories. On cold days, or in cold rooms, people use nostalgia to literally feel warmer,” said Tierney.

High school students can find their own spark of sweet old nostalgia by thinking back to the good old days of elementary/middle school.

Recently, students were given a poll on what they miss the most from elementary and middle school. The options provided were recess, field trips, nap time, free school plays for everyone, homeroom, free time, easy travel to and from school and other. The other category gave students the option to write down their own favorites that they miss the most.

Field trips were the ultimate fan favorite as they took 25 percent of the total 80 votes. Recess and free time were tied in second with 24 percent of the total votes, a very close second. In third place came nap time, with ten percent of votes.

School plays comes behind with only five percent of total votes. Homeroom and easy travel tie with 3% of votes. Though respectable, they don’t match the same level of nostalgia that field trips, recess, free time and nap time hold in the student’s hearts.

In last place comes the infamous “other” category. Students wrote down their own submissions of missed favorites. Such missed favorites were shorter days, snacks, and no homework.

Each of those submissions came in with one percent votes each, tieing for last place. Though with only one person writing them, the outcome was expected. Each submission means something important to those who wrote them down.

The feeling of nostalgia can help counteract the anxiety, boredom and loneliness that teens often feel. It can also bring people together and spread happiness all around. Looking back time to time is a good practice for anyone to do.

So reminisce, talk with old friends, and let the pleasant memories come back up. Nobody can take those wonderful memories away, so no rush!