Take a minute to reflect back on the final day of last semester's exam week. You've just finished your last exam, and you're packing up your car to go home. As you drive away from your campus, all you can think about is the summer that lies ahead. The possibilities of your summer break unwind in front of you, with seemingly endless options. Maybe you'll go on vacation, or you'll start an exciting internship or summer job. You'll spend lots of time catching up with old friends and binge watching movies on your couch. Whatever you decide to do with your summer, you know you'll soak up every last carefree minute of it.
Fast forward to now. Believe it or not, school is starting soon. Like, really soon. This is a notion that will be hard for you to grasp, and more than likely, you will find yourself going through the six stages of back to school grief.
1. Shock.
Wait, what? School starts in just a few short weeks? Soon, you have to start doing homework and taking tests again? You have to start thinking about school supplies?! You will have to repack everything you spent a month of your summer unpacking in your room at home??
2. Denial.
This can't be happening. There's no way that summer is almost over. You just got home!! You still have plenty of time to catch up on that one show on Netflix, and you absolutely can squeeze in a full family vacation before you have to head back.
3. Anger.
You've been so busy with your summer job/internship/family obligations that you barely got to have any fun during your hard-earned summer vacation! It is seriously unfair that you have barely had any time to unwind and relax, and now have to start studying and completing assignments again. You'll be crying in the library at 2 a.m. in no time.
4. Bargaining.
Maybe you can go back to college but not do any actual school work. That way you'll still be moved in, and on campus, but will get to spend time with your friends instead of stressing out about your future and test grades. If this fails, maybe you can convince your mom to let you be a kid again for just one semester.
5. Depression.
Soon, it will be back to all the worries of the school year. Where will you sit in your new courses? Who will you study with? What if you fail all your classes and have to make balloon animals on the street to get by? College is already stressing you out and you aren't even there yet. The thought of having to trade in your pajamas and pizza for all-nighters and lectures makes you want to cry in the fetal position for a couple of hours.
6. Acceptance.
So, your summer is almost over. But, that doesn't mean that the fun has to end. You start to remember all the amazing and fun parts of school. Having dinner with your friends, and watching cheesy movies on the couch. Those long life chats, and nights spent dancing to music at parties. Even though the end of summer does mean a return to schoolwork, it also means more time to spend with the awesome people at school, and a chance to better yourself and your future in the long run. You order your textbooks and begin packing, and find yourself smiling as you reorganize your backpack for the coming semester. You got this.
