It happens around April every school year: I think I'm almost in the clear, that all I have to do is get through finals week before I'm finally free, and then BOOM. It hits me.

What on Earth am I going to do this summer? Do I really have no job prospects?

How does this always happen? Let's break it down.

1. The early months

This is usually around October and November. It seems as though summer ended only yesterday, and that there can't possibly be any reason to start looking for a job or internship. Plus, I have classes, clubs, and sports—who can waste time on job interviews when the semester has barely started?

At this stage, the summer is full of promise and potential: maybe I'll get a job working for a magazine or a tech start-up, or spend my days working at a high profile company and my nights hitting the city with my friends. Maybe I'll even be able to travel abroad, and visit exotic beaches and famous landmarks.

As the days grow colder, it's much more appealing to coordinate group Halloween costumes than it is to search for jobs. For now, next summer seems to be comfortably in the distance, and all I can think about is fuzzy sweaters, pumpkin spice, and apple picking.

2. A mid-winter freak-out

But then, December and January roll around, and suddenly people start asking what I'm going to apply to over winter break. But isn't summer still six months away? Isn't there still time? Wait...my friends already have work lined up for them in June?

This is around that time that I may have a slight existential crisis after New Years. But after this mild 'where-is-my-life-going-oh-my-gosh-I'm-doomed' panic, I can usually pull it together to enjoy the rest of break, and once again ignore the call of internship applications. I may find myself doing a few internship Google searches here and there, but ultimately the desire to relax before Spring Semester takes precedent.

I mean, there's still time to search for jobs in February, right?

3. NOPE

February and March can be rough. It seems like everyone I know has a super-awesome-fun internship lined up for the summer, and I'm stuck Googling 'somebody please please please give me job!'.

This is the point where I fill out every application I can get my hands on, and the promise of summer starts to slip away. Instead of thinking 'maybe I'll get an apartment in New York City and intern for Vogue' I start to think 'maybe I'll get lucky and find a $20 bill on the ground today!'

4. The April struggle

And now we get to April—the time of endless Skype calls and phone interviews, of crafting the perfect resume to get an employer's attention, of refreshing my inbox every 30 seconds in hopes of seeing that all important 'Congratulations, welcome to the team!' email.

All in all, with school winding down, and summer getting a little too close for comfort, April is probably the worst stage of the Summer Job Struggle. I may or may not find myself on the phone with my parents every other day complaining about my lack of prospects, or having a full-on vent session with my friends over dinner.

Either way, the April Struggle hits everyone, and it's important to remember that no matter how stressful this time of year gets—

5. We're all in this together

Yes, that's right. Most college students can relate to the crushing anxiety that is applying for summer jobs. It's important to remember that even if it seems like everyone around you is getting their dream job or packing their resume, they are probably just as nervous as you are. I know I am.

Applying for jobs and internships over the summer can turn into a quasi-competition between me and my peers, but it doesn't have to be that way. Not everybody will get the most glamorous job over the summer, or the most impressive internship to put on their resume. And that's okay.

After all, it's still summer we're talking about! It's a time where you can let go of the pressure and commitments of school for three months, and catch up with your family and friends from home. Maybe summer for you means relaxing on the beach and catching up on TV shows, while for someone else it means interning at a law firm. Both are completely valid and worthwhile!

So while it may seem like the summer job search is an endless pit of despair right now, remember that we're all in this together, and no matter what, this summer will be one to remember!