Finals, Maymester, and classes are finally over and I've made my way back home for the summer, excited to have a break from school for these few months. I spent the first night with my family, caught up with old friends the next few days, and laid by the pool to try my hand at a summer tan, but after only a week or two in my small town I was ready to pack my bags back up for school. There are a number of things I realized when I moved back home that I hadn't even considered before.
1. All of my friends are scattered around the country and the world.
My best friends no longer live in the bed five feet away or three doors down the hall. Catching up requires hours of phone calls, car drives, or plane rides to get the whole scoop.
2. The curfew is back.
Remember those nights in college when you got back to your dorm at three in the morning and no one asked any questions? Those are long gone now, replaced by the high schooler's curfew of 11:30 PM. I wish that was a joke.
3. Everyone from high school made it back home, too.
That's right, the people you have successfully avoided for almost nine months are back. Time to start wearing makeup to the grocery store again, you're all back to being locals.
4. Sleeping in and watching Netflix all day is less acceptable.
It wasn't exactly encouraged back at school, but after a long week of work and late nights, a Saturday of sleep and television was more understandable.
5. I'm officially on the (summer) job market.
There are those few that have internships and camp counselor positions and those even luckier few who don't need a job at all, but most of us are scrambling to get any job we can, on the same playing field as high schoolers again.
6. I am now living in the space of one room with the objects of two.
I never knew just how much space my dorm room had, but stepping over the bookshelf every morning really opened my eyes.
7. Outings are less exciting.
If you're from a small town like me, you know there are about three things to do for fun unless you get creative or drive an hour away.
8. Parent permission is again a problem.
Instead of just going and doing, I have to ask my dad, explain what I'll be doing, where I'm going, what time I'll be there, who I'm going with...and then there is still the possibility of the answer being "no."
But despite the many issues that come along with moving back home, I'm still just as excited to see my family and take a little break before I head back to classes and dining hall food. I miss my friends and my freedom and it's more of an adjustment than I expected, but I know I'll miss the summer as soon as it's gone. College life can take a break for now, at least for a little while.
