The Five Stages Of Summer Break

Everything in life comes in stages, and the summer season is no different. Summer break for an undergrad student is a time to forget about school for months at a time, and to look ahead to letting your brain take a much needed vacation from the stress of going to college.

Stage One: Freedom

Estimated time: Two weeks

Freedom. Pure freedom. Finals are over and the summer is yours. The sun is out and life is better. Anything can happen (besides having responsibilities).

Stage Two: Reality

Estimated Time: One month

The feeling of freedom doesn’t last long until reality starts to sink in. Yeah, you’ve been out of school for a while, you have no money to actually go do any of those fun things you were daydreaming about and your parents are nagging you to get a job. Your excitement level plummets pretty quickly.

Stage Three: Vacation

Estimated Time: One week

Vacation, the best week of the year. The pressure is off again and you don’t have to worry about work or babysitting or helping your mom clean the house on your rare day off (looking at you, mother). It’s back to relaxation and so, so many naps.

Stage Four: Boredom

Estimated Time: Until school starts up again

Okay, so vacation is over. Now what? You kind of wish school would start again so all of your friends would be in one place. Trying to make plans with more than three people in the group chat is pure chaos.

Stage Five: Regret

Estimated Time: The second week of school

The first week of school was basically still summer vacation. Syllabus week, anyone? But then you wake up for that Monday morning 8 a.m., realize you have a long semester ahead of you, and then ask yourself why you were ready to come back to school again?