It's that time of the year again. Spring break season has begun and soon enough, you'll see different colleges from around the country taking off for a week to head to their favorite party destination. Some make the smart decision of staying home to save money, while the rest of us go to spend even more and drink on a beach with our friends. Here's the bittersweet, love-hate progression of a week on spring break.

1. The talk

A lot of these trips must be booked far ahead of time, some as early as fall semester. The months leading up to March are full of constant plan-making, pump-up and daydreaming about this week. If you're not going on a trip, it's your absolute worst nightmare because you know every single detail of your friends' soon-to-be extravaganza.

2. The shopping

What swimsuit are you buying? What fanny pack are you bringing? What alcohol should I buy? Should I order this dress from Tobi? This is usually paired with a meltdown about how you no longer fit into a single thing from freshman year.

3. The travel

What better bonding than squishing into a cramped car for 15 hours together? But no one cares because soon enough you'll be on a beach, and that's all that matters.

4. The first day bliss

Throw on your favorite swimsuit, make a huge mixed drink, and run to the beach because the week you've been waiting for is finally here. You're invincible. You can drink an endless amount. You couldn't be happier. This is the best day ever.

5. The first morning hangover

...Until you wake up the next morning. Where are we again? You might have over-estimated yourself, because you feel nothing short of a semi truck running you over and you still have an entire week ahead of you. So much regret.

7. The rallying

Time to buck up because no matter how you feel, you still have six days left of this. Chug some water, take some ibuprofen and get back out there.

6. The false hope

I got this. This is what we trained for. I am totally capable of binge-drinking for six days and nights without any problems. This is what life is all about.

7. The mid-week recovery

A break wouldn't hurt, though, right? Maybe I'll take a sober day. Maybe I'll just drink beer. Maybe I'll drink only vodka water with real lemon so I stay extra hydrated. *insert whatever lie you want to tell yourself*

8. The final blow-out

This is it. Our last day in paradise and the end of a journey we'll talk about for years to come. Time to make it count, kids.

9. The good-bye

After sufficiently screwing up your body, you're ready to leave. Time to spend the next 15 miserable hours in a car ride home talking about who did what, dreading the schoolwork ahead of you and contemplating self-harm until you're back in your own bed again.

Until next year, spring break.