Let's face it. College is exhausting and finals week is hands-down the single worst week of the semester. The stress from finals week alone takes a month to recover from and sleep off. The only thing that gets you by (other than the countless number of coffee's you've bought from Dunkin Donuts that has probably given you palpitations or a heart attack by now) is the thought of home-cooked food, being back with your best friends, burning your notes and not having to worry about school. Finally reuniting with all of your best friends from home almost makes up for your semester of hard work. (Congratulations, you made it through another year!)

However, the summer before your senior year of college is an interesting one. It's extremely different than the rest. By this time you've already had 2 summers back from college to spend with your hometown best friends who have become your brothers/sisters over the years. You've become so close that it's an accepted practice to just go over each other's houses and eat all of their food despite being away for the last year. It's like nothing changes. Coming home for the summer going into your senior year, you expect this summer to be more of the same. Going to the beach, having bonfires, going out, being with your friends and working a few shifts at the summer job you've had since high school. Your parents nag you to do your own laundry even though you don't want to, and they yell at you for gaining too much weight while at school, yet they cook you massive portions of every single dish that you missed so much while you were gone. However, this summer is when the serious nagging comes in, the nagging about more important things you've been putting off because graduation was so far away and adulting isn't fun for anyone.

"Adulting" has become a pretty commonly thrown around term. For those of you who don't know what it means, it basically means to do something adult-like. Examples of this would be paying your own credit card bill, getting a "real job" or making your own doctor's appointments (scary, right?!). Adulting is the transition steps from having your hand held to becoming a productive and independent member of society. The summer before your senior year is the most opportunistic time to begin laying the framework of your future. All 3 years of your blood, sweat and tears at school can finally begin to pay off as you realize that you need to use this last summer wisely, whether it's working an internship, getting a job closer to the field you want to be in or looking into grad schools (okay, this is seriously scary). This summer is like putting a car in drive before you hit the gas; it's the last major thing you have before you try to get where you're going.

Realizing this is honestly terrifying. With one year left until graduation, you realize that it's time to get your act together and that being an actual adult is right around the corner. This is the summer you spend working to fit the stonework together to lay a solid foundation for your future enterprises. This summer is your chance to do something that sets you aside from everyone else that applies for your dream job and wants it just as bad as you do. This summer is your chance to apply for an intern position at a prestigious corporation that will most likely hire you once you graduate because you took that initiative to get your name and foot in the door before anyone else.

I'm not saying all of this to scare anyone, nor am I saying that this is the path that everyone should be on. What I am trying to say is to use this time wisely because this summer is a goldmine of opportunity, and don't expect this summer to be like the rest. Even if you aren't in school or you're done with school, odds are that some of your friends will be taking advantage of this time. They might be seriously focusing on their internship, job or grad school searches, and won't have the same priorities as all the past summers you've shared together. Unfortunately, this is a part of growing up, realizing your priorities and chasing your dreams. The best advice I can give you is to make lemonade and do your best because that's all anyone can ever ask for!