Now that us college kids have been on summer break for a few weeks, the “hometown blues” have inevitably commenced. Being back on your old stomping ground no longer has as much of an appeal as it once did, and so the countdown to August has already begun. Here are seven things about college life that you’ve definitely taken for granted over the past two semesters and miss dearly now that you’re home.
1) There is always something to do.
Every day there are so many exciting activities taking place on campus. Whether you’re going to an a cappella concert or a toga party, it’s guaranteed to be a great time. You’re not accustomed to the new level of boredom that being at home presents. Taking a trip to the grocery store with your mom may not be the worst thing in the world after all.
2) Your college friends rock.
Returning for the summer and being surrounded by people from high school has made you appreciate your college friends that much more. You’ve probably kept a few best friends from home, but you miss being able to gossip about the latest news on campus or get ready for the upcoming night’s events in each others' rooms. Road trips are a definite “must” this summer so that you can be sure to keep in touch with your college friends.
3) The food
Long gone are the days when you could stroll into the dining hall and eat as much as you wanted for “free." Having a meal plan may be one of the greatest things about college. You don’t have to shell out extra cash to pay for lunch with your friends or even for coffee from the Starbucks on campus. This summer you’ll have to use all the pennies in your piggy bank though, in order to keep up with those shameful college eating habits.
4) No "asking permission"
Although it’ll be nice to have some quality time with your parents this summer, it’s definitely not so nice having to ask for permission when you want to go somewhere. Living at home under parental supervision means having a curfew and a full set of rules, which is not something that you’re used to from the past few months. Unfortunately, “I don’t know” is not an acceptable answer to the question “when will you be home?”
5) Having roommates
After spending almost nine months living in tight quarters with people, your room at home feels big and empty. Not being able to tell your roommate a funny story or dig through the closet of a friend who lives down the hall has led you to feel seriously lonely. Sharing a bathroom with your little brother is about the closest you’ll get to “communal living” this summer.
6) Walking everywhere
While having a car on campus is definitely a luxury, as soon as you came home for the summer you realized that it isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Not being able to walk everywhere is actually a huge hassle. You now have to drive at least a short distance to eat and socialize. There goes convenience and some much-needed exercise.
7) Naps
More than anything, you definitely did not fully appreciate the power of a successful after-class nap. Crawling into bed midday during the summer no longer has the same effect as it did after dragging yourself to economics, where you would stare at the clock and count down the minutes until you could retreat back to your room. But I promise you this is only temporary, naps will return to their glorious state at the start of next semester.
