After making it through two years of college, I've been able to compare summers before college to what summers are like during. I can say without a doubt that summer after a year of college, is not all that great. We spend nine months in the same environment, with the same people, doing the things we want, but when we come home everything's changed.
These are the reasons why I don't think summer is all it's cracked up to be.
You miss your friends
We make relationships with these people who become our best friends, family and lifelines. They've struggled, laughed, partied, and cried with you all year. Then all of a sudden it's summer and we're expected to go three months without seeing them. I don't know about anyone else, but I've been out of school for one week and I already miss all my college friends and I can't wait for them to come back.
All you do is work
The dreaded summer job. If you're lucky enough to not have to work during the school year, then you completely understand how awful it is to go from not having to work for months on end to having to get up every day and go to work. For those of us who have to work year round, nothing really changes. We work just as much, if not more than we did during the school year.
You gotta get back in shape
I can only speak for myself, but I know that finding time to exercise is rough sometimes. We get so busy with school, work, a social life, and so many other things that finding time to stay healthy are difficult, at least it was for me. So I, like I'm assuming many others, spend summer getting back into shape and making a plan to try and stay that way.
Rules
If you're moving back home to your parents, that means you've got to follow their rules again. That means giving up that little taste of freedom we had just a few weeks ago. But it's not the end of the world. It's nice to be back with the people that love and care about you enough to give you rules.
Overall, summer is the best time of the year. Sunshine, warm weather, barbecues, and fireworks. But there are so many times I wish I could enjoy all these things and still not give up what I've gained from a year in college.
