1. The old (sorta) friend from high school.
What an awkward run-in at the mall when you’re with your mom, or at the bar when you have your new college friends with you. You ask the typical “how are you” or “how is (insert college name)," but do you really even care to ask? You both try to make conversation, but in reality, you could probably just figure out what they’ve been up to on their Facebook later. No face-to-face contact necessary.
2. The old fling.
“Oh good, they’re still cute” or “what was I thinking” might run through your head in this moment. You might realize how far you’ve come and the bigger and better things you’ve moved onto since them. Maybe they’ll remind you of past homecomings or prom, or random hangouts you considered dates before you realized what dates actually are in the real world. Either way, the memories come back.
3. Your ex-best friend.
There was some falling out, whether it be a fight or just becoming distant once college started, but either way, you’re not friends anymore. Your parents might still ask about them and you occasionally find yourself creeping their Instagram, wondering what they’re up to. A casual smile and wave will do justice when you run into each other.
4. That friend you’ve had forever.
Whether you’ve been friends since you can remember, some class together in junior high, or the sports team in high school, there’s always that one friend you can count on to hang out with. Although you may go to different colleges, you come home like nothing has changed. You might be gossiping about the people you haven’t missed, or maybe introducing them to new college friends, but you still hangout like you did in the good ol' days. They’ll keep you sane this summer.
5. Your parents.
Let’s be honest, in the end, these are the people you’re probably happiest to see. What college roommate paid all your rent, cooked all your meals, and did all your laundry? Your parents will accept your mood swings, Netflix-binges, and ability to not move from one spot all day. While coming home from the summer might not be all its cracked up to be, sometimes it is necessary to take a break from closing down the bars every night at school (and all the studying of course). Think of it as an all-expense paid vacation.
Whether you welcome back these old friends, or turn the other way in public, it is inevitable that you will see them sometime during summer break. If you’re lucky enough, you live close enough to your new friends and new flings so that you can spend your free time with them instead. If you’re one of the unlucky ones, look at it this way – summer is only 12 weeks, and Netflix has plenty of TV series to keep you busy. You’ll be back at school before you know it.
