Having a birthday at the end of July may sound like a blessing with the warm weather and a school-work free day. However, as many of those with summer birthdays can attest to, being born in the hot summer months is not as wonderful a thing as many may think. Here are a list of some of the biggest struggles that come with celebrating the day you were born in the summer:
1. You probably have to work.
We all have those dreaded summer jobs/internships that drag on throughout the hot months. The problem with having your birthday during one of these summer months is that you are probably going to be working. Whether it is a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. internship or a 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. ice cream store shift, you are basically not going to be able to escape the responsibilities of summer jobs.
2. You are obligated to throw a pool party.
Pools, bikinis and lots of sunscreen. If you have a summer birthday you know the drill. You send out the little invitations with the beach chair and umbrella on them with the address of your chosen pool. Don't get me wrong I love a good pool party, especially when I was little and my one piece held up through dozens of dives and jumps. On the other hand, you are basically forced to have these parties because it is so hot and any other activity would just leave everyone sweaty and exhausted.
3. You can't eat anything you want.
Because of the fact that you have to throw a pool party and are definitely sporting your cutest bikini, you can't indulge in those 3 slices of cake that you want so badly. In addition to that, the weight that you would gain from eating your absolute favorite foods would stick around your stomach all bikini season.
4. You have to go out in your hometown (a challenge in it of itself).
Wow. If this is not one of the biggest struggles I don't what is. If your hometown holds house parties this might be your best option if you are under 21. However, most of the time your parents will take you out to dinner and you'll eat too much only to then be disappointed by the less than exciting plans for the rest of your night.
5. Parents.
Parents, can't live with them, literally can't live without them. As much as I'm sure every child loves their parents, they aren't exactly the rowdy crowd that you want to spend a wild birthday night with.
6. You're most likely going to sweat.
With temperatures rising along with the desperation for a satisfying and story worthy birthday, you may begin to sweat. If you found a club that would be the ideal spot for this wild night, beware because your hair might grow bigger than their air conditioning bill if the club is crowded enough... which hopefully it will be.
7. Everyone forgets.
If you're sitting and staring at your phone patiently awaiting those "Happy Birthday" texts, I would tell you not to hold your breath. Along with a brighter sun and tanner skin, summer also seems to bring out everyone's forgetful side. Sure you have that one friend who wishes you a heartfelt "Happy Birthday" at the strike of 12 but when every other friend, especially school friends, doesn't remember until 10 p.m. because they saw it on Facebook, that can certainly be a blow to your ego.
8. No presents.
Along with living away from school during your birthday and being away from the friends you spend the most time with, presents seem to strictly be be from parents, relatives and the loyal midnight-wisher. What's worse than the lack of treats and new shiny things is the fact that you still feel obligated to buy all your winter birthday friends presents. After years of giving and not receiving, you have come to terms with just being the a**hole friend who doesn't get anyone gifts.
9. You can't celebrate it in Happy Valley.
As a Penn State student birthdays are the one night a year you can literally go to any party and get free shots wherever you go. Well, during the summer, Happy Valley is a town plagued with summer-sesh freshmen. The only thing worse that going to a bad party is going to a party and realizing that you are the oldest person there. However, if you are one of the lucky few to have a birthday during ArtsFest you will get all the aspects of a school year birthday but with the warm weather and beaming sun.
10. You turn 21 too late.
The final and probably most painful aspect of having that dreadfully late summer birthday is the fact that you are probably one of the last, if not the very last, of your friends to turn 21. You won't be able to go to the Phryst at midnight and get a trash can, you won't be able to go to Indigo Thursdays or sit at Cafe's outdoor tables and watch people walk by. You also will watch each and every one of your friends turn 21 and have to send them off to the bar as your crew dwindles down one by one until only you remain. Frats are fun but when you are 20 and all of your friends are at the bars with other sophisticated 21-year-olds, drinking Natty and getting sweated on by strangers might not seem so appealing.
Even with all these struggles, keep in mind that when everyone hits that scary age of 30, you'll still have just a little more time to ride the wave of immaturity and run rampant with your youth.
