Before beginning my first year of college, I heard my friends in grades above me anxiously await with great excitement the start of school. As someone who has always loved summer and time off, I was always confused how they could possibly feel this way. Test taking, group projects, notecard making, and so on we're nothing I ever felt ready for. But now, heading into my sophomore year of college, I cannot wait to be back on my beautiful campus. Here are just four ways I have found summer in high school is different than summer in college.

1. Last week of school

The last week of school in high school always felt just like it was portrayed in movies. Papers flown in the air and everyone making a mad dash out of the building. Everyone left and did not turn back. The last week of school in college is a little different. It's spent panicking over finals, packing everything you own, and saying goodbyes. It's filled with tears over not seeing your best friends who live hundreds of miles away and already starting to count down the days until fall.

2. Work

Summer work in high school is very different than summer work in college. In high school, working was usually for resumes or a little extra cash to spend shopping or on food. In college, with an extra month of summer, work takes up the majority of your time. Whether it's an internship or working in corporate America, you'll find yourself taking every opportunity to make money. They don't refer to us as broke college students for no reason.

3. Activities

Endless days by the pool, vacationing, and sports practices make up the majority of a summer in high school. Seeing your friends almost everyday and then feeling like it's the end of the world when you have to spend a week apart. Working, getting fit, apartment/dorm shopping, and trying to catch up with as many old friends as possible is typical of a college student in the summer. There's a transition from being free of responsibility to feeling like you need to complete a thousand tasks every day.

4. Last week of summer

The last week of summer may prove the most obvious difference between high school and college summers. Quickly reading a summer's worth of work in two nights and trying to finish that last Netflix series between the tears of going back represents high school students well. However, in college, you'll be so ready to be back with your people. It may have in fact felt like the longest three months of your life.

It is safe to say your perspective of summer vacation differs from age to age. No matter what stage in life your at, be sure to spend each summer day doing what makes you happy. It may feel slow at times, but overall, It goes by faster than you think.