Now that school has ended for the semester, I could not be happier. With the last month of stressful assignments and ten-page papers behind me, I finally feel like I can relax and do what I want. Like most people, I keep a mental note of activities I want to complete during break. This is the little list of things to do that I've compiled into my first few weeks of summer. Feel free to oblige by them as well.
1. Celebrate with a drink... or 20.
After a long semester, there is nothing I want to do more than drink away the memories of all night study sessions, terrible exams, and long papers. Sometimes college can be tough. Every semester, there are moments where I feel like there is absolutely no way I am going to be able to finish all my of assignments. At least, not finish them well enough to earn a decent grade. However, I always pull through somehow. Nothing says, "I need a beer" like turning in your last final.
2. Move all of your stuff back into your room.
Leaving school for summer break is 10x harder than leaving from winter break. During the summer, you need to move all of your things (like more than just your clothes and laptop) back home. This can be such a hassle to do. Not only does everything have to come out of your room or apartment at school, but it then has to be packed into the car and later moved into your house. Moving isn't fun and it never will be. Let's be honest.
3. Do literally nothing.
Once everything is settled and you're officially back home for three months, it is time to relax. I can always tell that I am getting older because, when I have free time, I want to sit down and do nothing. Spending hours on the couch or in bed is actually the most perfect activity for the moment. Being in school forces you to constantly have something to do. I'm always busy. One of my favorite things to do on break (or at least the beginning of it) is to actually do nothing.
4. Hug your pet.
When you're away at school, you don't get to see your family as much as you might like to. Of course I miss my parents and siblings when I'm not home, but I miss my pets the most. When I come home from school, no one gets my attention more than my cats. They're the first ones I say hello to when I get home and the last ones I say goodbye to when I walk out the door.
5. Eat (or devour) all of the food your mom cooks.
Something I will not miss at school is the food. Near the end of the semester, I thought to myself, "If I have to eat one more meal from this dining hall I might explode." Coming home is great because you get to eat a home cooked meal almost every single day. No one cooks better than my mom. However, everyone thinks that their mom is the best cook. (That's a real fact, right? Go moms!)
6. Meet up with all of your friends.
It's hard to say goodbye to all your friends at school, but meeting up with your best buds from home is pretty great. Once everyone is done classes and moved back home, the group gatherings commence. Everything picks right back up where you left it. For a moment, it feels like old times, and everyone is just happy to be around each other.
7. Catch up on all the family drama / gossip about people from high school.
Uncle John did what? My cousin Megan is pregnant? Who knew that girl from high school would get married at 20? Wait, he bought a brand new car by himself?! When you're away at school, not only are you extremely busy, but you're most likely out of the loop too. Coming home and learning all this new information can be overwhelming, but it's also something to look forward to.
8. Sit back, relax, and do whatever you want!
Basically, now that you have three months to yourself, you can do whatever you want stress free. This summer, I will be able to sleep in as late as I want, stay up as late as I want, play mass amounts of video games, and binge watch Netflix without feeling guilty. Here's to a great summer with the fall semester not even in sight!
