With the beginning of summer classes this Monday, it's time to evaluate Summer C for all its worth. Staying in Gainesville for the summer means continuing the college routine of class, work, friends, and a little craziness. While some kids choose to go home for the summer, relax, and spend time with their families, many of us don't want the year to end. For those spending the summer in Gainesville, there are both advantages and disadvantages.
Pro: Maintaining your independence. When you go home for the summer, you're sometimes subjected to the same rules you had to deal with in high school. You go from complete freedom to a curfew and questions about where you are and what you're doing. This can be really annoying to deal with, and if you stay in Gainesville, you can escape the whole thing. Here, you accept that you make all your decisions and are also responsible for the consequences. Plus, if you want to eat pizza three nights in a row, no one's stopping you.
Con: Virtually no break from school. There are about two weeks or less between the end of spring term and the beginning of summer classes, depending on your finals schedule. So if you decide to enroll in Summer C, you are basically a year-round student. All that stress studying for tests and exams and keeping up with deadlines is still there. As a result, you have less time for the beach and endless Netflix marathons. Just like during the fall and spring, you have to keep up with your schedule, log your hours at Library West, and make sure that you get at least the bare minimum amount of sleep. These classes count just as much as your others do.
Pro: No FOMO. The best part of staying for Summer C has nothing to with classes. It's the fact that you're not going to miss out on any of the fun because you'll still be in Gainesville. You still get to hang out at your favorite fraternities, have a pool day with friends, and best of all, eat greasy foods at 2 AM. Yes, you have class to attend and work to do, but you most likely have a less packed schedule than you did in the fall or spring, and thus you have more time do whatever you want. Take advantage of it, you have the whole summer to do all the things you might not have had time to do before.
Con: Things just aren't quite the same. When you think of what your life at UF is like, you have a very specific picture in your mind of what goes on. It most likely includes eating meals with friends at your sorority or fraternity house, attending philanthropies, going to football games or playing in them for intramurals, and drinking three coffees a day to keep up. Summer term just doesn't feel quite the same. Things aren't as busy, and all of your best friends aren't in town.
While there are clearly good and bad things about staying for Summer C, everyone should give it a try at least once. Getting the UF experience when things aren't quite so crazy gives you the opportunity to try new things and possibly get more sleep while doing them. Not convinced that the pros outweigh the cons? Find a happy medium and give Summer B a chance.
Happy summer! Whether in Gainesville or not, let's make it the best one yet.
