While most of your friends were lying on the beach or going on extravagant vacations, you were cooped up at work. For you, work was located in an office. While you may not have had a relaxing summer, many things certainly happened.

1. Your day becomes routine.

Working in the same location, on the same project, and with the same people makes it easy for your days to run together. Every day follows the same pattern—but you quickly find things to make each day different and exciting. Sometimes, that thing is as simple as changing the creamer in your morning coffee.

2. You form a “telephone voice.”

Everything you say is spoken in a chirpy tone that would put even Snow White to shame. You can turn this voice on and off with the drop of a hat. Every call is answered with a “Good morning/afternoon/evening! Thank you for calling. How can I assist you today?” No matter how your day is actually going, you are always “great” and having a “wonderful” day,

3. When answering FAQs, you have a script and you stick to it.

“No, we do not make reservations.” “Sure, I would be happy to let you know our cancellation policy.” “Let me take down your name and number and I will have a manager call you as soon as possible.” This script was either given to you or created by you. Either way, it is now engraved in your mind and you can easily recite every policy of your workplace.

4. Performing menial jobs for different departments becomes the norm.

Alphabetizing everyone’s paychecks? You have done it before. Cutting up and folding pamphlets? You do it once a week. You are always happy to help with these jobs because, well, you cannot really say “No.”

Image via History of the Computer Desk

5. You become overly comfortable in your office space.

You’ve done it all: put your feet on the desk, laid across tables, and curled up in your chair. Eight hours is a long time to be cooped up in an office the size of a closet (especially if yours doubles as an inventory closet). You might as well be comfortable, right?

6. But you envy your boss’s office and her amazing view.

If only you could have an office as lovely as hers. But she works hard, so she deserves it.

Her view:

Your view:

7. Computers become your best friend and your worst enemy.

There are so many wonderful things that you can do on the computer! And, you are now the master of Excel spreadsheets. Until, of course, the computer crashes and you lose everything. Staring at a computer all day makes you slowly lose your mind. At least you can surf the Internet when no one is looking.

8. You become extremely jealous if any of your friends have jobs outdoors.

The lifeguards get to tan and sit on the beach. The nannies get to play tag and run around the playground. You get to stay in the same chair all day and organize filing cabinets.

9. But you secretly revel in your air-conditioned space.

Nothing beats walking into the office after being outside in the sweltering sun. You get to escape the incredibly humid air and revel in your frigid cubicle. Not everyone gets to enjoy this luxury.

10. Your standard for “office-appropriate” attire varies.

Sure, some days you are decked out in a full pantsuit. Then, other days, you just want to wear that cute, new sundress you recently bought. If you wear a sweater with it, then it is appropriate, right?

11. You quickly realize which issues your boss wants to deal with and which he would prefer you to handle.

“I am so sorry but he is in a meeting. Would you like to leave a message?” If someone asks for you to “check with a manager,” you wait 10 minutes and then call the person back and repeat what you said before.

12. You find numerous ways to entertain yourself when things get dull.

Sometimes, you have nothing to do. Next thing you know, you are reading every Odyssey article available and quizzing yourself on a map of the United States of America. You may not have gotten anything accomplished for work, but at least you know the first 20 digits of pi.

13. However, you learn how to make it seem as if you were working the whole time when your boss walks by.

You click out of Tumblr at the speed of light and start writing nonsense on Microsoft Word. The blank piece of paper in front of you becomes extremely interesting. “Aha! There is the information I was looking for. Let me write it down on this post-it note.”

14. You get used to people thinking you are older and even forget your age yourself sometimes.

“No, sorry I can’t come out tonight. I’m only19.” Unfortunately, going to bars with your fellow employees is out of the question when you are underage. But there are plenty of advantages of being the youngest in the office. Everyone is always willing to give advice and you learn plenty from people who have been working longer than you.

15. You come to value hard work and organization.

If these weren’t values in your life before, they certainly are now. You quickly learn that each person needs to work hard to accomplish a common goal. Organization is key for communication in communal work. These values, implemented well together, create success.