Whether you're in high school or going on your final year of college, the end of the summer always leaves a bitter taste in students' mouths. The beginning of August doesn't only signal intense heat waves, but it also marks the beginning of another school year. The anticipation, worry, and excitement can be overwhelming, but these in-your-face signs intensify these emotions even more.
An absurd amount of traffic on your daily commute.
You don't remember it taking you so long to get anywhere in the mornings or the afternoons, but now that elementary and middle schools are back in session, your neighborhood street becomes a parking lot at 8:00 am and 5:00 pm every single day. Not only does your commute time double, but if you get stuck behind a school bus picking up kids at every neighborhood, you might as well call in late to work that day.
Back to School Ads.
With Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube taking over our mass media consumption, the days of the classic back to school advertisements are sadly over. However, as those old ads become a vintage commodity, there have been a plethora of Spotify ads, Facebook pop-ups, and much more to take their place. Although you may be thankful for the much needed discount, the twinge of sadness coupled with nostalgia are still there after every advertisement.
All the school supplies you need are on sale.
This one is a back to school perk. Students spend a fortune on fancy notebooks, pens, and highlighters every year, and half of the time they end up lost somewhere on campus after the first week. Getting the supplies you need at a discount can reduce the real financial burden that comes with education.
You start getting excited to see your friends again.
Photo by Helena Lopes from Pexels
You haven't seen them all summer because one was at work, one was at an internship, the other was visiting family abroad. The list goes on and on. One thing you do know though is that you miss them and you can't wait to see them again. You know they'll be there through the ups and downs of the upcoming school year, and they will make the whole experience worth it. The prospect of going back to school doesn't seem so bad after all.