When you are in high school and summer vacation starts, you're so excited and relieved the school year is over. You know you'll get to hangout with your friends and go different places everyday.
When you're in college, you are sort of excited for break because you're stressed out from all the school work, but deep down you're heartbroken you have to leave your second home for a few months. This not only means leaving campus, but leaving your friends behind too because chances are they live farther away than you'd like.
In high school your friends are all in town and not more then a few minutes drive away, but in college friends can be states away. College gives you a sense of freedom. You are on your own, you get to do your own thing for a few months. When you come home, your parents might not expect you to be out so late.
In high school there might not be as much pressure to have a job over break like there is for college students because face it, you're drowning in debt already. The more hours you can get the better, but now you have less free time.
College summer breaks tend to be longer than high school. College students get about 4 months while high school students get about 3. This sounds great, but time drags by when you're dying to see your friends from 2 states over.
Don't get me wrong, being home for summer break is great. There's a change of scenery, your own shower, your own bed, homemade meals and if you have pets, you can see them whenever you want! But while all that is great, if you chose the right college, you cannot wait to get back there. As a high school student you never want the summer to end. You can see your friends anytime so school isn't important for socializing.
All in all both summer breaks have their pros and cons. Personally, I love being home from college for the summer, but I am more than excited to be back at my second home in a few short months.