My summers were once full of long idle days, spent either sleeping or enjoying the freedom and warmth that summer vacation brought. My hair grew brighter, my freckles were more pronounced, and I constantly smelt like sunscreen and fresh air. With summer brought childhood friends, trips to the beach, camping, and fun. Growing up brings many changes to your life, but one of the most drastic, especially when you're a student, is the change to summer.

Summer means no more classes, no more homework, no more essays, and no more tests, but it no longer means freedom. Not like it used to. Once children start really growing up and becoming independent, employment becomes necessary, and they must give up a large portion of summer fun and idle days in order to make money. I never spent my summers going out or going to the beach all the time, but I had an excessive amount of free time where I could do basically whatever I wanted. Now, I've sacrificed all that free time in order to make money. I even pass up on opportunities for fun in order to work. I suppose that could speak to the capitalistic nature of our society, but digress.

My summers have recently been accompanied by long shifts, lack of sleep, and menial paychecks. It's not just me, either; it's everyone. It's simply a part of life and growing up. Summer is no longer like a Disney Channel Original movie, full of fantastical plots with song and dance. Summers are relatively dull and stressful, if you have a job and responsibilities, and you find yourself struggling to find time to hang out with your friends and go to the beach. The shift of a fun summer to a working summer is just a brief look into what life will be like after graduation, a constant job with little to no break or freedom that summer once offered. We took it for granted as kids, summer vacation, but we always looked forward to it in the midst of the school year. Enjoy the slight break while you still can, however stressed and over worked you may be, because it's still a break you get from working toward your major. Once you have that degree, get ready to work; Summer no longer offering any refuge to you.