1. Denial: The “It's not that bad” stage
At first you think that it will be a nice change to be home for the summer. This is the time to relax, detox and lose all the weight you gained from those late night binges at O’Bettys. So many great things are to come this summer!
The first couple weeks at home you convince yourself that you are fine being there, and you are having SO much fun. You finally get to see your hometown friends whenever you want, go shopping with your mom on your parents’ dime and eat at all of your favorite hometown restaurants. This isn’t that bad at all.
2. Anger: The “It is that bad” stage
You start your summer job or internship and everything is going swimmingly. You have just begun to write all of the summer's events in your planner when you come to realize that you have SO. MANY. DAYS until move-in.
A mental break down occurs because you think, What am I going to do until I get back to Athens? I’m so bored I’m going to die. THIS ISN’T FAIR!
3. Bargaining: The “I can fix this” stage
THEN ... there are those few weekends that you can visit the Promised Land that is Athens, Ohio. You start to remember the feeling of Athens; you recall how the sun shines brighter and the drinks go down easier in this small southern Ohio town. After you have the best weekend of summer, you try to make a deal with the Gods above, "I will be a perfect angel at school this year if you make it August within the next few days."
When that doesn’t work, you try to fill up every day of summer break with “fun” things to do. It’ll make the time go faster (hopefully).
4. Depression: The “Nothing will make this better” stage
By this point, you are now laying in bed looking through old pictures of better times, Athens times. You suddenly realize it is a Saturday night and that you aren’t out, with friends or doing much of anything. You begin to try and find a hobby other than skipping down Court Street without a care in the world (and other than accumulating ATM fees at Crystal), but nothing will compare.
5. Acceptance: The “Ugh fine" stage
Reluctantly, you make a countdown to when you get to return to Athens in the fall, knowing that there are better times to come.
Making it to the acceptance stage is difficult, and it takes time. We all hope that by time we get to this stage, it is time to go back to Athens. Because let's face it, no one can accept being away from Athens, Ohio for such a long period of time.
