Every year, millions of students return to college to complete another year of one of the biggest commitments of their lives. However, there are also those who choose to take a semester off from school. Whether this be for financial, medical, or other personal reasons, it is more common than most people think. I took the second semester of my sophomore year off due to medical reasons. Unfortunately, the time off isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. Therefore, I have compiled a short list of the thoughts every student that takes time off can relate to.

1. You avoid high volume public places at certain times of the day.

This means 7a.m. trips to the grocery store, topping off the gas tank at midnight, and scoping out the cars in the parking lot before entering any restaurant.

2. You may tell a little white lie.

If you do run into someone, after cringing and attempting to hide behind the paper towel display, you dodge each of their questions. Sometimes, you might embellish and say you’re taking online classes or came home just for the weekend.

3. Sleeping at a decent hour doesn't really happen.

You told yourself you’d go to bed early but it's 3a.m. and you’re still scrolling through Instagram. Jealousy builds up inside as you scroll past photos of late night parties, group study sessions, and midnight trips to the diner you are no longer a part of. When finals week rolls around, you relish as your former classmates spend hours in the library while the biggest dilemma you’re faced with is whether to make pancakes or waffles for breakfast.

4. Working is complicated.

Trying to find a job is a priority, but you also want to avoid seeing any classmates or underclassmen from high school. Out of your desire to avoid any unnecessary social contact, you drive forty-five minutes to work a minimum wage job you hate with a fiery passion.

5. You receive unconditional love from a furry friend.

Your dog becomes your best friend. He never judges you and is actually pretty happy you didn’t pack up everything and leave him for months in August. With no homework or studying hanging over your head, walks and games of fetch with your best friend begin to last hours.

6. Money is still hard to save.

You think that you’ll have so much more money now that you don’t have to buy textbooks, a meal plan, and other school supplies. Unfortunately, this fact only encourages you to buy more stuff at Target and add a few more items to your online shopping bag.

7. Getting back into the groove of school things scares you.

You’ve taken time off and tried to re-evaluate what you want to do with your life. But now that you’ve been out of school for a semester or two (maybe more) the thought of going back is too daunting. You tell yourself, “Maybe I’ll take one more semester off and then start up again.”

8. You wonder if you made the right decision by taking time off.

The friends you made your freshman year are now seniors preparing for their futures and are applying to grad school. You feel slightly inadequate and secretly hate them for it. As they walk onto the stage at graduation you’re reminded that you should have been up there on that stage with them.

9. Your age is a secret.

You knock one, two, or maybe even a few years off your age. No one else needs to know what year you graduated high school.

10. Fear is a real thing.

You have the inevitable feeling that you’re wasting time. The thoughts creep in that everyone else has their life together and you’ll forever be stuck in limbo. It’s the fear that you’ll never figure it out or when you finally do, it’ll be too late.

11. You get back into the saddle and ride again!

You’ve taken time off and you’re now ready to return to school. You quit the crappy day job, packed all of your belongings, found an apartment, bottled up your pride, and hugged your parents goodbye. There is no such thing as wasted time; now you are more prepared and better equipped to take on the next semester.