Some people don't have the means to just have a relaxing summer, sitting by the pool and happy they made it through another semester paying ridiculous amounts to get an education. Last summer, I was that person who got to do whatever they wanted after school let out. I moved back in with my parents, I was transferring schools. I could do anything. I helped with my mom's Vacation Bible School at her church. I went to the pool. I hung out with my fiance. It was an awesome break after my first year of college by myself, away from my family.
This year, I actually have to deal with adult problems - saving money for rent, finding a job that pays me enough, switching car insurance so I don't have to pay so much, I have to pay my phone bill and budget everything. It's a completely new dynamic for me in my life. I can't spontaneously take shopping trips or take a day off of work to go to the beach.
I am just as interesting as I was before I started having to say no to outings because I have work.
I'm still the same friend, just slightly busier in which I can't just drop what I'm doing to hang out. I have new responsibilities that come before hanging out with friends, which I will make time for I just have less time for.
Summer is all for fun, beach, and sun, but sometimes it's also about moving back in with your parents so you can save money on rent which makes me have to request more hours. It's also learning how to budget between if I really need those new sandals, or if I need to save for food come fall after having to save for my astronomical rent.
Sometimes it's great to have a break, and other times you have to do what you need to to get by. I realize how hard it is to be an adult and how true it is that adult relationships are hard to keep just because you move on, you get busy, you don't have time for parties and weekend road trips.
Don't worry. I'll still get my little summer break in July when I took a few days off of work to see a Panic! at the Disco concert. But until then, it's work and my summer class for me with a few breaks in between. And again that doesn't mean I've suddenly become a boring person - I became an adult.
