Expectations vs. Realities of Summer | The Odyssey Online
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Student Life

Expectations vs. Realities of Summer

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Expectations vs. Realities of Summer

Summer vacation; what everyone has been waiting for. Finally done with school for the year and off to recovering from the stress and workload of being a student. Many have high expectations of what their summer will be: filled with beach trips, love interests and spending every moment with friends. But when reality sets in, you soon discover summer isn't all its out to be.


No more school work

Expectation: "Schools out so no more school work, right? I can finally burn all my notebooks and throw everything away! School's over woohoo!"

Reality: "You want me to do what, Mom? Study for future exams, take summer courses? Who do you think I am, some sort of genius? You already signed me up? Are you serious Mom!?"


Money


Expectation: "Who cares about money?! I probably have a lot saved in my account. Can't wait to go on all these day trips and shopping sprees with all my free time!"

Reality: "Wow I'm so broke, I have to get a job. Uhh Mom, can you give me some money please, I'm begging you."


Getting a job

Expectation: "Okay, got a job. It's okay, they probably only need me to work like once a week. Maybe they'll pay me like $15 an hour, that sounds about right. Can't I get a job where I can do nothing?"

Reality: "Oh my God, I'm working 5 days a week, and how much are they paying me? How many hours do I have to work a day? Wow I hate my job, but I need the money. I NEED THE MONEY!"


Chores

Expectation: "Since it's summer, no chores right? Mom and Dad will be home all the time, they can just do the dishes and laundry, I wont have to anymore!"

Reality: "What? Just because it's summer doesn't mean I don't do chores anymore? But I just had to go to school for a year, this is my break. Can I at least get paid now? I'm broke."


Spending time with friends

Expectation: "Thank God it's summer, now I get to spend all my time with my friends! We'll go to the beach, shopping and go to parties! SO much fun!"

Reality: "When are you free, oh never? Okay yeah me too, I'm working all week. Maybe we can hang out maybe next Tuesday? Are you free then, too?"


Getting tan


Expectation: "I'm not going to wear any sunblock this entire summer. Hopefully I'll get a nice golden. Everyone's going to be so jealous!"

Reality: "Yes Mom, I put on sunblock. I don't know why I got so sun burnt. Don't worry, it will turn into tan eventually! Wow, these tan lines are awful."


Perfect summer bod


Expectation: "Yes, finally got that six pack I've been working so hard for! Yes, I go to the gym everyday, run three miles everyday, 100 crunches and pull ups. I even have a 6 minute mile."

Reality: "Oh yeah, I just signed up for the gym. Have I gone yet? Uh, I went to sign up, haha... I'll have that perfect summer bod in no time!"


Vacations


Expectation: "We're going to Hawaii?! And we're buying a GoPro?! Wow this trip is going to be awesome. What, staying on a condo right on the beach?! Maybe we'll swim with dolphins too and cliff jump!!"

Reality: "We're going to the beach again, sweet! But wait will there be wifi? Can we take cool pics like all those Instagram famous accounts? No, okay. I have to share a bed with whom? No way."

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