So you just graduated high school? Congratulations! That is a huge accomplishment and it deserves to be celebrated. Now you probably want to go on trips with your friends and enjoy the first summer before freedom. You should enjoy yourself, but don't spend all of your time doing so.
Spend Time With Your Parents & Siblings
I know that you're excited to get out of the house and have the freedom that you've desired for so long, but remember that your parents are the ones who got you to where you're at. They've helped you since your first day of kindergarten, driven you to school, packed your lunches, and sat through all of your sporting events and school plays. Your siblings have been your side-kicks through it all. Even if you argue with them all the time, you can't deny that you love them, so show them.
Spend a night or two a week with them, eat dinner with them several times a week, and include them in your excitement about college. Go to your little brother's soccer game or take your sister out for ice cream, these things will mean a lot to them, especially when you aren't around as often. They are all probably asking a million questions and driving you insane, but let them enjoy this moment with you. I promise you won't regret it, because even if you don't want to admit it, you'll miss them once they leave on move-in day. So, don't skip family vacation, join them and actually enjoy the time with your family.
Get a Summer Job
Once you get settled on campus, you may have extra time to find a job that you can work outside of classes. However, you're going to be busy adjusting at least the first week or two and that is when everyone you meet wants to go out and explore the town around your school. If you don't have any money, how are you going to go to all of these cool restaurants with your new friends? And you don't want to rely on Mom and Dad to pay for everything do you?
Finding a job during the summer is easy, a lot of places are hiring. Just put in an application literally everywhere that is hiring. Write a resume, get some references, and walk into stores if you have to. I cannot tell you enough how much stress this will take off of you once you get to school. As long as you save some of the money, you will know that you have the security of that in your bank account in case a new adventure comes up or an emergency that you need to pay for, you will be prepared.
Save Your Money
I promise that all of the things that you want to spend your money on over the summer will be fun BUT, they will not be as fun as that concert that all of your friends want you to go to first semester. Or even as important as a fine you have to pay without telling your parents that you got. It is important to have money saved up in case of an emergency while you are away!
Plus, there are going to be a lot of things that you will want to do once you graduate college and saving your money every summer will help you do so. Something that I have found helpful is saving my $1 and $5 bills and a certain amount of each paycheck in my savings account. This helps it to add up more quickly.
Visit Your Grandparents
Realistically, your grandparents probably gave you some of the most fun memories that you have as a child. Giving you ice cream when your parents said no or taking you on an unforgettable vacation. These all seem like trivial things now, but the harsh truth is that your grandparents won't be around forever. Spending time with them while you have the chance is important. You will not regret baking cookies with your grandma again. Especially if they are not doing well as it is, take them some coffee, sit down and have an in-depth conversation with them. They know a lot more than you think and can probably offer important advice that you won't forget.
These are the memories that will last forever, the advice they give you will help you during your time away from home. They may even tell you stories of their times as a young adult that you've never heard of before. Enjoy this time, because it could be gone before you know it.
Learn How to Take Care of Yourself
Getting into a routine is important in college, because it helps you to feel awake every morning on the way to your 8am instead of feeling like a walking zombie. Start this summer by getting in a routine before bed and in the morning, this will only help make life a lot easier once you live in a dorm with 50 other people on the same hallway. Get plenty of sleep, this is also critical, don't stay up all night, because once you start classes in the fall your body will need sleep more than ever. Getting into a routine during the summer of how to quickly fall asleep with benefit you so much when you go to bed late after studying.
Not only is it important to get into a routine, it is also important to learn how to do things for yourself. Learn how to wash, dry, and fold your own clothes. Warm water for whites and cold water for colors. Learn how to keep track of how much money you spend, get a planner, budget for health products, and do all of the things your parents have been helping you with along the way. It is important that you know how to do all of these things on your own. You don't want to be the person who doesn't know how to do anything and has to call home for everything. Everything else you will learn as you go!
