1. You Will, at First, Think “Home at Last!”

College is your home-away-from-home, but nothing beats finally sleeping in your own bed (hopefully it’s softer and A LOT bigger than our TXL), go out to places you haven’t been to in what seems forever ago, actually eat food out of a fridge or pantry (you totally forgot THIS luxury), and of course spend time with your family. It’s like living in a dreamland!

2. Return to Curfew

If you have somewhat strict parents who don’t realize you went out at 2 am for cookout runs (honestly THE best time for a milkshake), returning to a curfew is a given. When you want to go out with friends, you’ll do your best to avoid that warning text message “come home now” at all costs.

3. Catch Up With High School Friends

You left your hometown nervous, excited, and possibly feeling upset that you had to leave your closest friends behind as most went separate ways. The summer is the best time to fall back into routine with those friends you haven’t seen all year.

Find out what they’ve been to and share embarrassing college-life stories, especially the one behind that Snapchat you posted on your story at the curious hour of 3 am. (Who needs sleep in college?)

4. Miss All Your New Friends

College is the time to reach out and meet new people so believe it when others say friendships in college last a lifetime. You’ll miss late night jam sessions, breakdown sessions, and study sessions (obviously the most important).

Most of your friends will be far away from your hometown, but good thing there’s social media and long car rides. No matter how hard you try not to, you’ll miss the corny jokes from Sam down the hall, Julia’s guitar playing, or your roommate’s singing voice.

5. Manage a Summer Job

Ah, the wonderful part of life... work. Whether it be in retail where air conditioning is a blessing or lifeguard duty where heat is a curse, you will need that extra cash for the upcoming school year. (God knows you need to re-fill that dwindling savings account you swore had more than $20 at the start of the year) Putting aside the big bucks, summer jobs are the perfect opportunity to add experience to your resumé for future employers. You’ll thank yourself later.

6. Wish You Were Back at College

By the end of the summer, you’ll realize being home may seem like a joke after spending an entire year of living independently. However, summer goes by quickly and you’ll be frolicking around your second home in no time (okay, more like binge- watching that new Netflix show you’ve been dying to introduce to you roommate). With that being said, enjoy your next three college summers and the best time of life without the constant stress of lectures!