For the person tipping, it’s easy to move on from leaving a zero on the tip section of a receipt or pressing one simple button. For the employee on the other end, though, tipping impacts both their paycheck and their livelihood.

Even though I’m an off-campus student, I still need to eat. I buy a meal plan so I don’t have to worry about packing a lunch, there’s no money coming out of my pocket and I can maintain ties to campus life.

If you’re feeling insecure about being seen with your lunchbox on campus, just know that I will proudly be sporting mine. Having a lunch prepared by myself and eating it where I can relax in the middle of my day is a small blessing I look forward to.

Don’t be a fish out of water. Before you leave, make a list. Go online to find relatively simple recipes that you can cook in your dorm or your apartment kitchen. Preferably nothing pungent — your neighbors and roommates will thank you.

Next time you’re taking a break and scouring your streaming services for something to watch, though, give reality TV a chance. Its lighthearted, competitive, down-to-earth nature might be just what you need.

The Cove, a nonprofit organization that addresses youth homelessness, celebrated its sixth birthday with a fundraiser tailgate Thursday evening at its facility at 524 West Waco Drive. According to The Cove’s press release, the tailgate was a way to celebrate the accomplishment of serving nearly 500 teenagers experiencing homelessness in the Heart of Texas Region.