It is no secret that time flies when you are having fun, especially in college. The nine months students spend in college studying, partying, and living life seems to fly by the fastest. In all of the hustle and bustle the new memories, endless laughter, and constant interaction are often times overlooked.
These times are often underappreciated until it's summer and you suddenly realize that they were the good old days. There is no better experience that compares to life as a college student, and that harsh reality hits every summer when student return home from their universities and try to grasp their new realities.
It is hard to realize the differences between home life and school life until you have to adjust back to your old ways, these are a few college life experiences that get left behind for summer.
1. Constantly talking to people.
Before coming to college, I genuinely considered myself a quiet girl, however, I quickly realized that was not the case. I cannot remember a time between the beginning of college in August until now where I actually shut up. Whether I was on the phone, with my friends, at swim practice, or in class, I could not keep my mouth shut. Now, having come home for the summer, I have to learn to be quiet before I talk my parent's ears off.
2. Living on your own schedule.
In college, I made my own schedule. I decided how late I went to bed, how early I got up, where I went, and what I did with my time. This gave me a great deal of responsibility and taught me how to manage my time wisely, however upon returning home, I have to adjust to being on my parent's schedule.
3. Having a roommate.
My college roommate is my best friend. We watch the same shows before bed each night, have endless conversations with each other about which Jonas Brother was the best, examine each other's diseases and sore throats, rant about drama and school, and laugh about everything. We spent the most time with one another in college, and not having her to come home to every day in my room at home is bittersweet yet super lonely.
4. Sharing a communal bathroom.
Sharing a communal bathroom was quite the experience. I thought most people had a general idea of respecting shared spaces, being hygienic, and understanding how to clean up after themselves in the bathroom but I was wrong. While we all had a good laugh throughout the year in our floor bathroom, there is nothing worse than walking into a bathroom that is covered in hair, toilet paper, and undisposed food.
5. Eating in a dining hall.
In my school's dining hall, we had plenty of options. While some nights every option was gourmet and we would leave ten pounds heavier, other nights we might as well have starved. Coming home is a little different because mom and dad only cook one meal, and you get what you get and do not get upset.
6. Living within walking distance to a Dunkin Donuts.
My residence hall was less than a two-minute walk from the Dunkin Donuts. This was both a blessing and a curse. The amount of coffee that my friends and I consumed was insane, yet upon returning home I do not know how I will survive without having Dunkin Donuts at the tips of my fingers.
7. Having a social life.
During the year in college, I had quite the social life. My friends and I always had plans on school nights and weekends, whether it was just grabbing dinner, hanging out in someone's room, studying together, or going out to parties. We were constantly doing things and now that I am home I do not know what to do with myself.
8. Walking everywhere.
About a month into school I forgot what riding in a car felt like. I had become so used to walking everywhere that I needed to be, I didn't see the reason to need a car. However, on a college campus, everything is within a reasonable distance. Now that I am home the only way I can get anywhere that I need to be is with my car.
9. Quiet hours.
Quiet hours are arguably the worst part about living in a residence hall. During these specified hours, residents cannot chat in the hallways or seemingly play music within their own rooms because it disturbs the people who go to bed before 8:00 pm. After returning home, I am thankful that my parents are less strict about quiet hours than the staff in my dorm.
10. Constantly being surrounded by friends.
Living in a residence hall, and on a college campus, it is so easy to make and hangout with friends. Weather it is just walking down to hall to a neighbor's room or meeting up at a coffee shop after class, friends are always accessible and readily availible to hangout. however, after coming home I realize how spread around the map my friends are now, and I miss them terribly. I cannot wait until summer is over and I can be with them again!
