When you wake up one morning and check the date and realize that you will be starting another year of college in a little over a month, there is a rush of feelings and thoughts that flow through your mind. School work = BOO but school friends = AWESOME. Couldn’t we maybe go back to school and have no work? I wish. Especially for me, this summer I have started my very first Monday through Friday job. Trust me, summer is fun but I am not 100% sure that I am ready for that 9 am-5 pm work grind just yet. So I sat down and tried to sort through the emotions and the thoughts I have been having about heading back to school soon.

1.) Free at last

I love my parents more than anything in the world but I love the freedom that comes along with college. If I want to eat a whole sleeve of Oreos, no one will give me the stink eye from across the room. Or, if I want to leave a dirty plate in my sink for a week, I am free to do so. Freedom is one of the most important parts of growing up.

2.) Remember, you're financially responsible again

Okay, when you’re living at home during the summer, you don’t really have to pay attention to the milk in the fridge and how it got there, but when you go back to school, you magically remember that milk and groceries cost money and uh…that’s on you!

3.) But, but… Who is going to bail me out when I have no more clean underwear?

Yikes, I can’t tell you how many times this summer I have realized I needed an article of clothing washed for the next day and it was after 10 pm. But never fear, mom and dad to the rescue so I could get some sleep. Can’t wait to have ALL the laundering responsibilities again.

4.) You will be reunited with your BFFS!

Okay I agree, laundry sucks, but it’ll be worth it when you and the best friends are back in the same zip code doing laundry together!

5.) Goodbye to carefree nights filled with bonfires and swimming

Cue tears and an endless supply of note cards!

6.) Remember you can go get ice cream at any hour

Leaving the house at 2:00 am to go get ice cream when you live at home isn’t necessarily wrong, it’s just frowned upon. It’s like an unwritten rule. You risk waking others up while you indulge your sweet tooth, which isn’t fair. Or you might send your parents into a tizzy if they wake up and find you missing.

7.) Ring…ring…ring. It’s me, just calling to remind you that I am broke!

Gah, so many free hours during the summer to work and make some mullah. Most of us who do have jobs on campus must balance work, sports and school, which significantly cuts into our cash flow. Yeah the donuts you want from Dunkin'… you’ll be paying for them in change.

8.) You get to get back to doing things you’re passionate about

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy being a camp counselor and I work with some pretty amazing people but, it’s not something I want to spend the rest of my life doing. I am really excited to get back to doing things that I love at school.

9.) You will sleep more

Currently, I am waking up at 6:30 am every morning for work and it is painful. Once next semester starts, I don’t have a class that starts before 10 am, therefore I can catch up on some Z’s. College is awesome!

10.) Can I bring my dogs to school?

Nothing is harder than spending four whole months with your fur family members and then having to be ripped away from them at the end of the summer. I hate leaving our puppies behind.

11.) School work. Remember all those classes you signed up for last semester?

Let’s not even talk about it. I should have taken underwater basket weaving.

12.) Memories. Memories. Memories.

Even after shedding tears about the school work and stress… I cannot wait to get back where we left off last semester. Here’s to more memories and shenanigans.

13.) I’m going to miss my home friends

I love when I am home and get to reconnect with all my people that have gone off to other schools. One of my favorite parts of this summer is just laughing with my friends who understand where I come from.

14.) I’m gonna miss the fam

I am thankful that I have such a tight knit family. I love my mom, dad and two sisters with all of my heart and it makes leaving them a little bit harder after spending four months together.

15.) Ready or not here I come

Well, regardless if I am ready or not for the summer to end, school will be here before I know it. So I have to make the most of the next few weeks and make memories before I head back to school. Thankful that I have such a great life at school and at home that makes leaving each place and the people there so difficult.