Coming home from college for the summer has been one of the weirdest transitions. From my last exam to pulling into my driveway, here are the highlights of moving out of college as told by "Parks and Recreation."
1. Turning in my last final
It has been a long, exhausting semester but it's finally all over.
2. Final meal in the dining hall
Salmo and I have a love-hate relationship. I mostly just love to hate it.
3. Spending all of your leftover dining dollars
Should I have spent these earlier? Yes. Do my friends appreciate group trips to Starbucks so I can buy them coffee? Absolutely.
4. Recycling your notes and papers from this semester
The hoarder in me says to keep everything but it's so much more satisfying to walk away from it all sitting in the trash.
5. Realizing you've barely packed and you leave in an hour
I have so much more stuff than I thought. How did I get this all here in the first place?
6. Fitting everything in the car
With the help of friends and family, somehow many trips worth of suitcases and trash bags fit in my car. Wizard abilities are the only answer.
7. Pretending you're not going to cry
I prepared myself to say goodbye, but I never realized what it actually meant to leave people for three months that you used to see every day. You just have to hold in the tears.
8. But you know saying goodbye is too hard
Just kidding, the tears are inevitable. I didn't make it five minutes without texting my best friend and roommate about how much I missed them.
9. Driving home in a sadness coma
I just hold out hope that tomorrow will be a better day.
10. Being reunited with your parents and siblings
I'm not sure if my family is ready to deal with me again but the crazy one is back and they have no choice but to love me.
11. Putting all of your college decorations up
It makes me happy to see all of my favorite canvases up on the walls at home.
12. Folding endless piles of clothes
Do I wear all of this? No. Will I ever get rid of anything? No.
13. When you have to eat healthy now
A 24/7 pizza roll diet is not an option at home. Back to salads and smoothies.
14. Laying down in your comfy bed
I wouldn't call the piece of wood they give us at school a bed. First sleep in a real bed in at least three months is magical.
15. Having no one to say goodnight to before bed
I would 100 percent tape my roommate's headshot on the wall next to me while I sleep if I could.
16. Eating a real breakfast the next morning
Let's be honest, a PB&J before class isn't breakfast.
Anything I can say, Leslie Knope can say better. My love for Bryant is probably unhealthy but it's so hard to leave. I'll miss the terrible food, the endless assignments and the lack of sleep just as much as I complained about them. The trip home was bittersweet but I can't help but reflect on the best year I've had yet. Time to start the countdown until I can go back.
