The end of summer means that it's time to switch over your wardrobe, pack up most of your life into a few suitcases, and say goodbye to your family and friends, in some cases until Thanksgiving or Christmas. Going into my third year of college, I admit that I still feel nervous about going back to college. I consider the long nights of studying and stressing about due dates, I remember going to bed late and waking up early for class, and juggling work, homework, and a social life to try and fit as much as I can into a mere 24 hours.

Of course, I look forward to reconnecting with friends I haven't seen in months, but with the happiness of hanging out with friends comes the pressure of college life. As most post-college graduates and adults have told me since high school, college is supposed to be the best time of my life. However, I quite hope that it is not the case that college is the peak of my life when I hope to have many years into the future to enjoy myself beyond the stress of having a large group of friends, the perfect internship, and a 4.0 GPA.

After three months of summer, during which I was able to spend quality time with friends and family without looming due dates and the fear of not passing a test I prepared vigorously for. Clearly, summer cannot last forever, and the months begin to dwindle as 2018 comes to its final legs, but I am happy for the chance I had to step away from the books and the stresses of school to spend time with the people I love.

I know that, deep down, I am ready to get back to school and work towards the degree I have had my eye on since I first stepped onto campus. Going into my third year, I understand that I am not a freshman anymore. I understand the path I have put myself on, and intend to finish my college experience with my head held high, taking away all of the learning experiences I can along the way, be it through books, or through the people I meet along the way. As I told myself last year, the future remains bright and it's important to take the passage of time into experience.

As I stand, I have no intentions for college to be the best time of my life, but I do want to enjoy it for itself so that, later in life, I can look on it fondly. I'm not excited for the late-night study sessions, but I am excited to see what campus holds for me this upcoming semester, as I am sure it is only for the best.