If you're going to be a freshman at a four-year university this fall, chances are you probably feel like I do. You feel excited, nervous, anxious, and scared. It feels like the incline of a roller coaster, only you don't know how big that first drop is gonna be. I have to say, the summer before freshman year is probably the worst, mainly because of the sheer anxiety that comes along with starting over somewhere new. But I managed to find a couple of other reasons why it might just be the worst few months of your life:

1. Say "adios" to childhood.

This is the last time you really get a chance to be a kid and goof around. After this, it's expected that you find a job (that isn't part-time) or some internship, which comes with a lot of responsibility. It's also the last summer where everyone is almost guaranteed to be home. After this, some of your friends will have internships near their colleges or in major cities, and it's gonna be a lot harder to see all your friends than it was before. So enjoy having all your best friends in one place while you can. It might be the last time.

(GIF via Tumblr)

2. This is the end of life as you know it.

Is this dramatic enough for you? It is kinda true though. Living somewhere without your parents, surrounded by mostly people your age, and having total independence is new for every freshman. Even when you come back for breaks, it's not completely the same. You'll start to the see the campus as your new home and start to feel homesick for the people there. You can drag yourself down by thinking "this is the last time I'll ____" but if you want a bright side, your life is changing for the better. Different doesn't always mean bad, but still the thought of change can be terrifying.

3. The waiting.

It feels like torture some days. While this summer has flown by, I still really want to fast-forward to August 21st, just so I can move in and start my new life as a Domer. I'm trying to enjoy the little things about life right now but lately, I can't wait until I can be on campus this fall .

4. Time stopped being a thing.

I'm contradicting myself (see number three), but my life lately feels like I pushed the fast forward button and I'm suddenly watching time move at hyper-speed. It feels like I barely had any time this summer because it's gone by so much faster than all any summer before. It makes me sad that I'm already halfway through July when it feels like I just graduated yesterday.

(Picture via http://surfandhydrangeas.com/)

While I think this summer has gone too quickly, it's also been one of my favorite summers. I've made amazing memories this past month and this time in my life has been unlike any other.

I don't want to end this article on a pessimistic note, so I decided to change perspective and give my reasons for why the summer before college is also the best time of your life.

1. Very little responsibility.

Besides getting your stuff ready for the fall, and maybe a part-time job, you probably don't have much to worry about. I'm just enjoying the fact that I have no papers due or deadlines to meet. I don't even have the summer assignments that I had in high school. No obligations also means that you can make the most of your time left with your friends, something that you won't get next year probably. I'm cherishing the moments I have left with everybody, before we all head off in separate directions. I have tried to fit in as many new adventures as possible this summer, which has made this summer the best one yet.

2. No more high school drama.

If you're still holding on to grudges about stuff that happened during prom, I say it's time to let it go. There's a very good chance you won't see your high school classmates during college and gossip tends to naturally die during the summer months. Never again will you have to deal with seeing your ex-boyfriend, or be the mediator in your friends' lunchtime fights. This summer is the perfect time to hang out with the people who truly made you happy these past four years, and now you can drop anyone who held you back. Doesn't that feel refreshing?

(GIF via chibird)

3. Everything is new and exciting.

Guess how many times I've been in Bed, Bath, & Beyond? Probably 100. Guess how many times I've been in Bed, Bath, & Beyond to shop for dorm stuff? 0. Everything I do to prepare for college seems new and awesome to me because I keep imagining what my future is going to look like. Even picking my classes was exciting to me because it made me feel like I was finally in college. This kind of feeling lasts through all of freshman year, since each experience is the first one and everything is different and exciting. College is one big adventure, and you're only just starting it now. If you're as optimistic as I am, chances are you're just as excited.

4. More freedom than ever before.

This summer I've been given much more freedom than I have in the past. My parents had slowly become less strict over senior year and now have finally given me full reign over my life, because they know I'm about to be completely on my own. I've used the excuse, "You won't be around to tell me what to do in two months" so often this summer, and for some reason it always works. I personally think this newfound level of freedom is awesome, and it's something that makes me look forward to being on my own next year.

(GIF via Tumblr)

So depending on how you look at this last summer before college, it could be the best or the worst time of your life. Either way you look at it, you're about to start a new, amazing adventure. Buckle up, and enjoy the ride.