The excitement of summer is overwhelming. A long break with no homework, exams, and projects seems amazing. Sign me up for a day of Netflix, pets, and sleeping in. However, this fairy tale doesn't end with "happily ever after." After the first few weeks of summer, boredom starts to become a paralyzing disease. The following reactions may occur if you have a case of the summer blues:
1. Only watching Netflix.
Television and Netflix is great, but when it's the only thing that you can do (because all your other stuff is in boxes), after about 78 hours, you feel like a zombie.
2. No parties.
Let's face it, partying is great! Whether you prefer a small group of close friends or something wilder, the lack of socializing, music and other items at parties makes your rebellious nature flare up. Your grandma salsa dancing in the living room just isn't going to cut it.
3. High school drama.
When you do get to socialize with people your own age, it's usually high school friends (don't get me wrong -- they're fabulous). However, some old high school drama may come back to life, creating the horrible, dangerous, and terrible Franken-drama, which can feel like a horror movie. No thanks, I think I'll just go back to watching a drama on Netflix.
4. Scavenging for food (no C-Store).
Not having to worry about how much money you have on your meal plan is amazing. However, if your parents are on a diet, or have changed their eating habits -- like mine, eating at home can make you feel like Tarzan scavenging the jungle for food -- until you find the hidden chocolate; then you're fine.
5. Chores.
First off, there were no bags of your favorite chips in the pantry, and now you have to clean the whole kitchen?! Technically, I'm a guest in this household. The point of a break is that we, college students, don't have to do anything for a while. Suddenly, Netflix zombie doesn't seem so bad.
6. Summer job.
First, you have to do chores, and now you have to find a job?! Yes, after your parents yell at you for being a Netflix zombie you are forced to enter the nightmare that is called "being employed." But, on a serious note, that extra cash flow to pay for food your parents won't buy would be appreciated. However, after spending countless hours applying for jobs, only a few will give you interviews, and even less will actually hire someone whose only there for the summer because let's face it -- why spend all that time training a new employee when they have to quit after a month or two?
7. Missing college friends.
After all this, you need to talk to someone else whose going through this, and remember the good times at Rollins, but everyone is "busy" (watching the new season of "Orange is the New Black"). Either way, Skype or Google+ is on the fritz, again; phone chats aren't the same, and texting "what's up?" with only a meager reply after several hours is no fun; so, you just end up missing them.
8. Alien syndrome.
Now you're left with trying to bond with the only person (people) you now see regularly: your parents. You've just spent a whole year away at college so, of course, you're going to reminisce about the good times by explaining them in full detail. Maybe that wasn't a good idea.
9. 24/7 family bonding.
Now that the parents don't understand the great time you had at school, and you aren't doing anything exciting, what is there to talk about? Nothing -- and yet they still want to bond for hours and hours. You just want to yell "Mom, Dad, I have a life. I can;t hang out all the time," even though that's not true.
10. 'Merica, home of the un-free.
Now, forced to bond with parental units, or a few friends who seem to know nothing about you, all that's left is to fill out job application and turn into a Netflix zombie. How free can you be? Also, when I actually have plans, why do I have to be home by 11 p.m.?!
To be fair, there are actually a lot of great things about summer: catching up with old friends, and sleeping on a bed that doesn't feel like a rock can be great.
You can make it through the summer! Just remember, school will start up again soon to cure your summer blues!