I am the type of person who needs to have something to do—I hate being bored. For that reason, I have always tried to find something fun and productive to do with my summer vacations. Since starting college, the option of choice has usually been a job because life costs money, but I have come to realize this summer especially that having a summer job isn't actually all that great. Here are ten reasons why:
1. You never have time to hang out with friends.
Although you are working and have money to actually go out and live life since you spend all your time at work, you never have the time to hang out with friends and spend money. What tends to happen to me most times is that my friends are busy on my one day and I never get to see them. Tragic, I know.
2. You miss everything...literally everything.
You remember when you were younger and school would be boring every single day. But suddenly you miss school one day and Beyoncé showed up, there was a circus at lunch time, none of your teachers gave classwork or homework and the principal bought everyone Chipotle. That's basically what happens when I go to work. On my days off, my family stays home and watches TV, but on the days I work, I come home and everyone went to the beach, my mom went on a shopping spree, someone left for Texas and there was ice cream and cake which was magically finished before I get home. There was even a time I came home from work to find out there was jello in the house that nobody saved for me, I was truly offended.
3. You're always super tired.
This might not apply to everyone, but as someone who works as a swim instructor, I am in the water for hours at a time and once I get off work, I AM EXHAUSTED. There are even some days when I get off work early enough to have a social life, but I am just so tired I opt to sleep instead. So sad.
4. You miss the sunlight.
There are some people who have the privilege of seeing the sunlight and feeling the warmth of the sun on their skin as they work...like my beach lifeguard friends. I, on the other hand, spend most of the hours of my day inside a building, so I barely even get to spend time outside. All the warmth of the summer months, I'm missing it.
5. You want to kill your coworkers.
I work six days a week, and for some reason I see the same five people every day that I am at work. It was all fun and games in the beginning, but I am at the point now where I need some space.
6. You're working so hard you forget about school and it just sneaks up on you.
I am still mentally processing the fact that I return to school in less than four weeks...
7. You don't get a "real" vacation before school starts.
This one really depends on the person. I know a lot of people take a week or two off work and have a real vacation, but unfortunately I will not be able to do that. So my last day of work for the summer is three days before the first day of classes. Fun stuff. But at least I had a productive, money-making summer, right?
8. You have to delete Snapchat.
I don't know about everyone else, but I most definitely delete my Snapchat during the summer. It hurts my heart to see my friends going on trips to California and Aruba while I'm waiting for the train to go to work. So Snapchat has to go until the fall.
9. Your parents never give you money anymore.
I know I have my own money since I am working...but I would still love an allowance or something. At least some transportation money or lunch money once in a while. In my head, getting some money from my parents means I can save up more of my own money, which works out great for everyone in the long run...right?
10. Somehow you have no money at the end of the summer.
This is another reason why I would love to still get some money from my parents or family during the summer. From money spent on MetroCards to buying lunch to an attempt at back-to-school shopping by the end of the summer, I am beyond broke. I literally cannot comprehend it. It just happens.
And finally we're at the end of this list. I'm sure someone can relate. Now get back to work, young people. Make that money.
