College is a wonderful place where students can voice their opinions, take classes they actually like, share their ideas with others and make wonderful memories. However, what comes with a great life experience also comes with a lot of stress and hardships. Thankfully, the pain is only temporary and once the school year ends, comes summer break! Here are some thoughts most college students have when their vacation begins.

1. No more school!

After a long semester of assignments, lectures, and labs, most students are physically and emotionally done with life. The last couple weeks of the school year are the hardest weeks of any student’s life. We are bombarded with exams, essays, projects, speeches, and presentations. But then something amazing happens, you walk out of your last final and can finally breathe normally again. It takes a while to process the fact that you’re actually done with all your finals but you are, and now you can finally let loose.

Still, it really is truly amazing to see how students are able to function on a day-to-day basis. Some have to juggle school and a part time job (or worse, a full-time job. Not to mention, my fellow friends who have to survive the quarter system instead of a semester;may the force be with you all. Three months of no school is bliss. To recover from a stressful school year, you can watch TV all day long and not feel guilty about procrastinating on assignments.

2. Adventure!

Three months of adventure! The possibilities are endless during summer break. Some people take crazy midnight road trips to the beach or to the donuts shop. You can finally go hiking to watch a sunset and appreciate that spectacular view you saw on your friend’s Instagram post.

On the other hand, you don’t even have to go outside. Binge watching shows or having a game night with friends can be an adventure. Summer break is supposed to be full of many fun memories that you should always cherish and remember.

3. What am I doing with my life?

Three weeks of binge watching shows on Netflix can start to lose its appeal. You start to question everything. Is this really how I should spend my days? You ask yourself this after finishing another season of your favorite show and then go take yet another nap for the fourth time that day. Nowthat school is no longer in session you start to get lazy. Instead of changing into an outfit,you stay in your pajamas the whole day because it's not like you’re going anywhere. You’re not planning on letting anyone see you in your oversized band t-shirt and basketball shorts.

4. Where did all my money go?

Most adventures cost money. There is almost no way to get around that. Whenever you go out with your friends to eat, you hand over your last ten bucks for your In-N-Out almost begrudgingly. You rethink whether or not that movie is really worth seeing or if you can wait an eternity for it to come out on Netflix. And for some people who have cars, their money goes even faster. They have to keep that tank full in order to cruise around town or go on a road trip. Despite that fact, it is totally worth it to splurge during summer break. You won’t be able to recreate those memories again so just experience it now!

Now is the time to experience it all because we’re young and free. One day we won’t be able to have as much freedom to have fun due to more responsibilities. We can still look back on all the memorable adventures we had those past summers. A wise person once said that during summer break, “It is in those times that there is a desire to hang on to the moment and never let go because it feels like life should be full of those moments every day.”