Congratulations! You’ve made it through 16 grueling years of schooling and graduation is right around the corner - an event recognizing your hard work and blossoming adulthood. Pop the champagne! Right? Not too fast, post graduate life may not be as sweet as it sounds. For one thing, summers will never be the same. Here are 10 signs you're experiencing your last summer as a student:
1. You’re in denial of the very real 40-hour work week, one that you’ll be expected to adhere to as a recent grad.
A college class schedule is a cruel joke in the midst of this monster – what do you mean eight hours straight and no afternoon nap?
2. You took or are planning to take a lengthy vacation this summer because you won't see three free months for a while.
Say goodbye to three months of freedom and hello to finite vacation days.
3. You find yourself getting emotional when passing the shiny 'Back To School' aisles at the store.
On one hand, you're excited this will be last the year of hauling new, crisp college-ruled notebooks to school. On the other, you reminisce about buying fresh new pens, folders, crayons and rad locker accessories as a kid.
4. Though it may be completely unrelated, you've started causally looking into grad school - anything to stay in college just a bit longer.
Law school sounds fun!!
5. Eager to trade the paid-by-the-hour life for the annual salary one, you are now much more aware of those professional finance and investment articles.
You've worked your whole life for the dough of which you are about to (hopefully) receive and you are not about to go out and waste it all! Well, maybe a little.
6. You splurge on a nice, classy outfit claiming you have to start building up your professional wardrobe.
The endless supply of t-shirts just won't cut it.
7. You then remember you're still a college student who needs to pay for textbooks and rent among other expenses and return previously mentioned outfit.
Gotta eat in order to graduate, amirite?
8. Speaking of money, you make it a point to utilize each and every student discount offered.
T-minus 10 months until those bad boys don't qualify for you anymore.
9. You talk up that summer internship, job, class or whatever you are doing to prime yourself for the post grad life.
Confidence is key. Why yes, yes I am ready for the real world.
10. You savor every last bit of Mom and Dad's home cooked meals.
Living with your parents has brought plenty of ups and downs. Steaming, fresh, made-for-you meals were always an up and with your pending move out, these little treasures are soon coming to an end. Time to buy a cookbook.
The student life has been pretty sweet and it'll be a bittersweet goodbye. Your next chapter though, will undoubtedly be filled with bigger and better things. So make the most of these next two semesters then pop that champagne!
