With exams finally over we all need a break. A break from the stress, the deadlines, the all-nighters, the list can go on for awhile. This is why a nice, three-month hibernation seems to be an appealing idea. Unfortunately, this isn’t high school anymore. We now have *gasp* responsibilities.
And this means that stress doesn’t go away for the summer, it just slows down for a bit. This means that by the time August rolls around, we are fondly recalling the good parts of college life, the friends, crazy activities, and the lack of parental supervision, while conveniently forgetting about the more challenging parts. Challenges like getting up for class, writing papers, studying for tests, and having mental breakdowns.
But here are 3 challenges we have to deal with during the summer, especially right when we get back.
1. Everything is missing
This especially applies if you have the misfortune of your family moving while you are away, Or if a younger sibling inherits your room. Whatever the cause, nothing is where you left it, or think you left it. Sometimes, even your chair at the dinner table has been removed. Add on top of this all of the stuff you lost while moving out of your dorm, and now you’re lucky to have any possessions at all.
2. Responsibilities (oh my!)
Remember how much fun thinking about the future was when you were applying to colleges? Now it’s even better, because it’s sooner.
With less time to spend procrastinating than ever, you’re finally forced to start thinking about after college (usually by your parents.) Maybe being home for the summer reminds them how much they don’t want you living with them when you graduate. Or maybe they’ve always warned you about the future and now you’re just better at listening. Whatever the cause, it doesn’t help with the stress. This is a primary reason why we have to get up earlier.
3. Getting up even earlier
We all want to sleep in, but getting a job often makes that impossible. Remember how long it took to get ready for 8 A.M.s in the morning? Well, it takes a lot longer in the summer. First off, you can’t show up to work looking like you just rolled out of bed.
In college, usually by the time April rolls around, you’ve stopped caring about your appearance in the mornings, and so has everyone else. This means you can stop hitting snooze on your alarm ten minutes before class starts, grab your textbook, and show up to class with seconds, or even a whole minute to spare.
Showing up for work at 8 am is a different story. You might even have to get a shower, or at least change your clothes and brush your teeth before you can drive to work. Add the time it takes to commute, and now you’re getting up no later than 7. Hibernation indeed.
