So you're working. Plenty of students have jobs over the summer to help pay their bills, to pay their tuition or to help survive the week ahead. It's not uncommon to have a job over the summer at your local pizza place, fast food chain or maybe even an internship.
Once in a while though, you get a job offer like no other: working at school over the summer. I have been doing it for almost a month now, and my roommates and I can agree that these are our daily thoughts.
1. "Wow, this place is a ghost town."
An average day at university is filled with students speed walking to classes, girls chugging their Starbucks and people passing out in the library after staying up all night for an exam. As the classes dwindle and seniors graduate, however, everyone begins to leave and says goodbye to the past school year.
When everyone is gone the "feel" of the campus isn't the same. It's just you, your co-workers and the empty residence halls and offices around you. Spooky.
2. "I'm working all summer and I'm still broke."
Fan favorite question: When am I getting paid? The answer is not soon enough.
After working in an office for the past few weeks, I can say that I truly enjoy my time. But what I enjoy even more is getting that sweet, sweet paycheck in my bank account.
Especially after I spent my last $10 at Taco Bell.
3. "Sooo... When is lunch?"
I am not a breakfast person.
I never wake up early enough to eat breakfast. Instead, I go to work at 9 a.m. and wait for lunch time to roll around.
Even then, it is a struggle. I have to either go back to my apartment, adult and make my own food or I have to spend more money going out somewhere to eat. Such is the struggle of not having the dining hall open during the summer hours...
4. *Insert any twisted work fantasy here*
You know the crazy things you daydream about but would never actually do?
Like dropping a really expensive laptop, smacking the papers our of someone's hands or storming out of the office after a heated discussion. All those hypothetical scenarios you make up in your head?
Yeah, we all think it too. Keeps the day interesting.
5. "Can I please rip off these clothes now?"
We've all experienced it on those dreaded business casual days.
Too-tight ties, itchy tights and blouses that seem to suffocate you when you're in them for too long.
Business clothes are awful, and by the end of the day, even the most proper person just wants to jump out of the blazers and slacks.
6. "When I get out of here, I am taking a nap."
Getting up is hard. Staying up is harder, especially while you are at a desk or office for eight hours a day.
Sometimes you just have to get through your midday blues and promise yourself a well-deserved nap.
7. "I swear to God, if Jill makes small talk with me one more time..."
It's not that you mind small talk most of the time, but there are some days that you think to yourself, "If Jill makes fake conversation with me one more time, I might explode."
Especially when you're wearing your business casual. Might as well Hulk-rip through your clothes if she talks about how hot it is in the office or her bedroom for the 50th time this week.
8. "Does ANYone do their jobs around here?"
I love a lot of people I work with. Some of them are the best people I will ever meet.
However, there's always that one person in the office who will never stop asking you for favors. Who will never stop asking if you have a few minutes to spare. Who will never stop leaving you sticky notes about things that you should "start if you have the time."
You will definitely come across people at work that make you wonder they even work here.
9. "If I put the laptop on my lap and turn off the fan, maybe it will feel like I'm at the beach!"
It's hot outside, and you are in a hot building making calls, sending emails and working on presentations.
You are wishfully thinking of being by the pool or at the beach.
But on those days you're really daydreaming, you can kick your feet up, put your warm laptop in your lap and point your desk lamp right in your face. It isn't exactly the beach, but it's close enough.
10. "I'm going to save this whole check!"
In your head, you say you're going to save all your money.
You're going to save up so much money that you never have to say no to your friends during the semester. And then inevitably...
11. "Wow, I realized I suck at saving."
After saying you'll save, you come to terms with the fact that you are, in fact, not saving your money.
You have bills to pay. Gas to pay for. Food to pay for. Did you really think you were going to save all your cash?
12. "Only X days until Friday."
You've never been one to count down the days to the weekend, at least not until you began your summer job. While all your friends are states away or relaxing at home, you're stuck working tirelessly at your school's campus center.
13. "I want to go outside. I NEED to go outside."
Spending time in a hot building while you stare outside at the beautiful weather is brutal.
It's truly heartbreak in one sentence.
14. "'Sorry, I have work' is my most common phrase."
While you're at work for eight hours, life can be pretty hectic.
Friends with no jobs or part time jobs will always hit you up, trying to make plans, until you crush them with the phrase "Sorry, I have work." You want to do stuff with them and be social, but duty always seems to call.
15. "I love my work friends."
At this point, my co-workers know far too much about me.
They know all about my personal life, and they're always ready for tea when something new comes along in the workplace or in private.
Work friends are there for you, even if the only time you see them is at work.
So many thoughts throughout the work week. So little time.