College is interesting, because each year can bring a whole new life in a sense: maybe a brand new place to live, some new people, a new club, a new major? (No shame in taking 5 years to finish that degree!) But the biggest change that comes around every May is summer vacation. It feels weird being home after spending 9 months surrounded by nothing but fellow millennials, and here are the 5 realizations of a college student who is home for the summer (one for every year it'll take us all to get our degrees).
1. "I REALLY need to make some money."
All of that coffee and fast food you buy during the school year doesn't just pay for itself, you know. Now, get out there and compete with your peers for those summer jobs!
2. "Wow, not many places are open after 10 p.m."
A college town never sleeps! I mean, who ever heard of a Cookout that isn't open until 3 a.m.? However, the harsh reality of it is, your hometown just may not live that life.
Too bad this is you every night at approximately 12 a.m. -
3. "I'll probably never finish unpacking."
It's a huge job. It's a job that may take all summer, and by that time you'd need to pack it all back up. So, really, you don't need to unpack at all, right?
4. "I am not used to being parented anymore."
It can be really difficult to transition from managing your own life back to living under your parents' roof. You're no longer used to asking permission or having a curfew. Your dorm room got unbearably messy, but no one told you to clean it. One time (or many a time) you accidentally slept through your first class, but that was all on you.
I'm sorry, Mom and Dad, if I'm a pain. And I'm sorry for the several times I've already forgotten to tell you where I was going.
5. "I didn't realize how much I missed my family."
Sure, it's really easy to get caught up with fun and friends in college. You almost forget what life was like before you left. But, when you come back to Mom and Dad, it makes you realize how much you love them and that you really couldn't live without them. (And you're not quite as independent as you think you are.)
Not to mention all of the beautiful reunions between college students and their pets!
To all of the college students home for the summer, enjoy this short time of your life, because we'll be on to the next phase in three short months!
