The end of another year marks a time of both happiness and sadness. A time where students reflect on what’s happened, but more importantly, what has not happened.
As a student who recently completed my first year of college, the thoughts of what to do this summer are endless.
Here are seven thoughts racing through every college student’s mind as they find themselves traveling home.
1. How soon should I start that summer job?
Starting around February, your parents have been on your back about where you’ll be working this summer. You could go back to your old job, or maybe you’re in the mood to try something new? You really need the money, but finals have you exhausted - do you start in running, or do you take a week or two off?
2. Will I survive without my college friends?
You’ve spent the past eight months living with these people. You’ve learned to survive together - who will do the dishes and who will take the trash out. You’ve learned who can cook, and who should stay away from the oven. Now that you’re home, you need to remember how to make it on your own. Hopefully you’re the friend that can cook.
3. When will my other friends get home?
Are they home? Will they be back soon? Should I call them? Almost as soon as you cross into the boundaries of “home”, the texts come flying. The sooner you start organizing, the sooner the fun starts. Whoever said the party stops when you leave college never had friends to come home to.
4. Can I really lose all that weight I gained at school?
Freshman fifteen, sophomore seven - it all seems to hit you a little harder the first time you slip into that bikini. You then spend the rest of the summer trying to lose the weight only to realize you miss it when winter comes around. In short, love yourself and your body no matter what.
5. How many home-cooked meals can I have in one day?
After putting up with college food, you can’t get enough of good ole’ mom’s cooking. You’re so excited, that when she asks what you’d like for dinner, you’ve already got a list pulled up. Then comes the actual dinner. With mouths watering and stomachs ready, you manage to muffle a thank you while tearing into a turkey leg or two.
6. Do I have to check my grades?
If the finals are over - are the grades really necessary? Deep down inside you know you’ve survived, but what if, somehow, you didn’t? How would you explain it to your family? Would they learn to love you again? Better off not checking, because as the greats say: C’s get degrees!
7. What should I do first?
You’ve been looking forward to summer since the beginning of the year. You started planning as soon as the Floridians started bragging about the heat. You’ve organized so many ideas that you can’t seem to choose what to do first. Do you take a day to binge watch that show you’ve been eyeing, or do you jump right in and head to the beach? Even if you can’t decide how to make the first day of summer perfect, don’t worry, you’ve gotten four months to find that perfect day.
