School is such an interesting journey. On one hand, school is a hated enemy of our time and stress levels. On the other hand, school is a necessary part in our development and success. Either way, let's be honest, school doesn't start on a specific day. It starts days, maybe weeks before its official beginning date. Here's some events that precede the first day of school.

1. Tax free weekend

Before school begins (some states have it after) there's always that one weekend when it's "the wrong time to go to Walmart." Every store is packed with "sales" as far as the eye can see. This usually begins the journey of the stresses of school.

2. Emails from professors

The night before the first day you check your student email and find out that you have two chapters to read in a book you don't have yet! Professors almost prophesying that you will be taking "copious" notes. Another professor wants to get a jump on things, but you haven't even gotten out of your summer bed yet.

3. Required textbooks

That moment when:

You check your classes and find the syllabi posted online. "Oh my gosh. I need $341 by tomorrow. The bank would never give me a loan because I haven't built my credit yet." Then the scouts look for books to borrow (borrowing is such a wonderful thing).

4. Organization

"How can I fit all of these things into my bag without hurting my back?" Binders, notebooks, textbooks, I feel overbooked. Anyone else decide to clean before school starts because you won't have time to clean during the heat of the semester?

All-in-all, college may be the best of times and the worst of times. It's all necessary to build you up as a well-rounded worker and send you out into the real world.