Summer is a time of the year that means a lot to me. It's an aspect of life that I've always looked forward to, especially when it comes to this tumultuous year. After finishing a strenuous semester of finals and internship applications, I can finally have a long and well-deserved break. For once, I don't have to worry about applying for internships and writing papers for classes. I can watch movies on Netflix all that I want for the summer, and I can also have long sessions of playing video games and listening to music. The summer is also an excellent opportunity to get into my creative interests, as I can devote some time to writing poetry and stories and think about hanging out with my friends. The summer is also my favorite time of the year, because I can eat a lot of ice cream and hang out on the beach all that I want. Staying at home has come with some daunting realizations about my life, though.

This summer break will be the end in numerous ways. Not only will it be the last summer break of my college years, but it will also be the last summer vacation that I will ever have in my life. After I graduate from college, I will start applying for jobs and incorporate genuine responsibility into my life. Weeks where I don't have to worry about anything will be gone from my life soon, and I won't be able to stay up late at night and play games anymore. After this break ends, it'll be gone from my life forever.

Thinking about this is quite an upsetting realization for me. Even though I still have an opportunity to enjoy the summer for a couple of months, I feel as I'm losing an essential part of my youth. Even though I still have winter and spring breaks to look forward to, the summer was always a special time for me. I viewed it as a place for fun, where I can make great memories with my friends and enjoy some excellent weather at the same time. The summer was a definitive part of my youth, and it summed up the freedom that I had while I was young. I can't believe that it'll be gone soon, and I feel like I'm losing my grip on my childhood.

This season has also made me realize how much I've done with my life. I turned 21 this month, and I am old enough to drink alcohol legally. I had my first shot of vodka very recently, and I've also secured an internship for the summer. I've officially dipped my toes into one part of the adult world, and I will start my senior year of college after the summer is over. I'm going to graduate from college soon and I'm proud of myself for accomplishing so much. At the same time, though, I'm bewildered with how life has flown by me so quickly. It's shocking how quickly I'm progressing into being an adult, and I can't believe that my youth is slowly coming to an end.

Overall, coming home for the summer has inspired me to think a lot about my life. I have officially entered into my last ever summer break, and it will be gone when I enter the real world. Summer has so much sentimental value, and it defined the essence of being young for me. Summer has always been a time for me to look forward to, and I'm unhappy that I won't have this anymore in the future. I'm also amazed, if not scared by how much I've developed in my life. Even though my youth won't last forever, I've been inspired to enjoy it while it still lasts. One chapter of my life might be over soon, but it doesn't mean that it'll be over for me completely.