Summer is a gift from the heavens. The greatest thing to look forward to. No more cold weather and sweating over midterms and SAT's.
High Schoolers who are seniors have a more stressful summer than college students. Why? Because they have to go to the same school for one more year until graduation. They also have to worry about their SAT and ACT's, and then that leads into college decisions and then that leads into scholarships, grants, and the student loans. Meanwhile, they have to make sure that over the summer nothing can ruin their transcript and after that, applying and checking out dozens of colleges to see which college fits best.
Not to mention figuring out the entire relocation aspect. Moving into college for two semesters is difficult because you don't know the area, people or what there is to do there. Even if you are commuting, you have to make sure you have a reliable vehicle and a decent schedule so you don't have long time periods in between classes.
I am sophomore college student and believe me, high school senior summer SUCKED. Nothing is more stressful than the year before you go to college.
However, college students are better. The majority of students are working to save up money for the next semesters or saving up money in general. Others are going on vacation, seeing friends and just relaxing. Until you hit the month before school starts, because, well, your bank account drains from textbooks and school supplies. Not to mention moving back into the dorms/apartments. Or how you get spammed with 10 emails or more a day reminding you of some event, back to school help or just random emails about your college that you don't understand why you are getting this email about food safety.
The worst part about summer as a college student is the routine you fall into. College isn't a routine. It is just a chaotic mess and the only thing that keeps you sane is the colored pens that "organize" your day. During the summer, the only routine you have is work, going to the gym, hanging with friends, sleep and eating. Also being able to drink/party whenever you don't have anything to do and not stressing about the next day because midterms don't exist in the summer.
Overall, high school seniors, try your best and don't freak out. As for college students, let's prepare for that $200 access code we will never use and a $400 textbook, also never going to be used.
Sheetal Tadiparty
Flickr Creative Commons
