It's that wonderful time of year again when school is out and the hot weather is in. Your mind gets filled with images of lazy days at the pool, lounging at the beach, and getting that tan you wanted all winter. For the next eight weeks, you don't have to worry about classes. Should be pretty fun, right? But going into summer always comes in different stages.
1. Excitement.
Summer is here! No more essays, deadlines, or having to deal with roommates (for a while at least). At college, you didn't have much time for yourself, and now it's all you all the time baby! You fantasize about all the things you're going to be able to do now that you don't have to attend classes. Goodbye lectures, hello Netflix.
2. Realization.
After sitting on your couch relaxing for a few days, you realize how much time you actually have. What do I do with all of this time? What did I do with all of this time just a few weeks ago? It seems as if there's more hours in a day now. This stage probably settles in around your tenth episode of The Office in a row.
3. The Overexertion Stage
With all this time, I must spend EVERY second doing something! So you decide to hop in your car and check off absolutely everything on your list in one day, which means stopping at the mall, the grocery store, the post office, and the fabric store; which also means you have nothing to do for the next three days.
4. The Lazy Stage
Needing to make up for all those hours you wanted to be lazy but couldn't during the school year, you spend hours wrapped up in your comforter staring at the television screen. You most likely spend the lazy stage catching up on your favorite shows so you finally know what everyone else is talking about.
5. The Workout Stage
Seems fitting that this stage comes directly after the lazy stage. Now that you have all this time on your hands, you can finally get in shape like you've been telling yourself you would all school year. You tie up those sneakers and head to the gym. The treadmill becomes your best friend for a while.
6. The Catch Up Stage
It's hard to stay connected with all those friends from high school now that you're in different locations, so summer is the perfect time to meet up with old friends! You decide to get coffee with one of your closest friends from high school and catch up on all the latest gossip in their world and yours.
7. The Visiting Stage
Your grandma has been calling and calling for you to come visit her all school year, and now that you have the time you decide to make it a whole week of visiting family. You do end up seeing your grandmother, but you also take some time to go see your brothers and sisters, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, etc.
8. The Working Stage
Oh yeah, you knew there was something that you had to do this summer. You search your town for something that works with your schedule and also understands that you have to go back to school in late August/early September. Not the most fun, but you could always use some more money for college.
9. The Preparation Stage
Is it August already? Summer always goes by way too fast. You know that classes are starting soon, so you head out to get some supplies and the necessities for your dorm room. Pencils, pens, and highlighters, you know you need them all. And you know that with classes starting, that means you have to do the dreaded ordering of textbooks.
10. The Packing Stage
Get out those cardboard boxes, cause you have to pack for the fall semester. You spend hours trying to decide if you really need to bring that many clothes, if you should bring your fan and if you need to hang up pictures this year. You ask yourself if you should bring your winter clothes yet or wait, but if your college is in the Midwest, you usually end up bringing them just in case.
11. The Bittersweet Stage
Summer is a time for fun and new experiences, and you know that it will be coming to a close soon. You cherish the memories and are thankful for the time spent at home, but you feel sad that it's ending. You hope for a great year of college ahead of you and for just as good of experiences.
