Staying Home This Summer Is The Best Decision I Have Made | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Staying Home This Summer Was The Best Decision I Made Because It Gave Me The Chance To Focus On Myself

I miss my college friends, but sometimes you need to just go home.

70
Staying Home This Summer Was The Best Decision I Made Because It Gave Me The Chance To Focus On Myself

This is the first summer since I started college where I don't really have anything planned. Usually, I have vacations mapped out, study abroad programs scheduled or some kind of summer course to finish. This time around I packed up all my stuff and headed home for 3 months of "I don't know". Other than a few hours of LSAT prep and maybe a few day trips to see college friends, I left most of my summer free of constraints. It's a weird feeling to pick up my planner and see empty places or be able to put my phone down for hours and not worry about replying to text messages or phone calls.

I don't have many friends back home and most of them are either working or finishing up classes at their college campus. My best friends are back in their hometowns, doing internships or spending time with their families. As much as I miss them, time away has given me a chance to focus on myself before heading into my senior year of college.

This summer has given me a unique opportunity to do just about whatever I want or absolutely nothing at all. I get up, make a pot of coffee, maybe study for a few hours and then have the rest of the day to myself. Sometimes I go for a run around my neighborhood, other days I stay inside a watch Netflix for hours. Sometimes I break out my paints and brushes and color away the day, while other times I hang out with my family.

I don't think many young adults get the chance to be with just themselves. When I'm up at college my days are broken down into hour intervals, where I schedule in time to eat, exercise and take naps. I wake up early in the morning and I stay up late at night, whether it's hanging out with friends or making sure I'm prepared for class the next day. At home, it's completely different. There's no running around campus or chugging energy drinks to stay awake during class. I haven't woke up feeling quite so relaxed as I have at home. There's no pressure, no schedule, no responsibilities for the first time in years.

Not everyone gets a chance to have a summer to themselves. Most college students have to work a job or apply for internships, but I was given an opportunity to take some time for myself, whether I planned to or not. I've been able to relax in a way that I haven't gotten a chance to in college. I'm not worried about missing out or going to class, but rather focus my energy on what I want to do.

College has gone by so fast, and I know that's because it's been such an amazing experience for me. I've met so many great people and done more in a few years then I thought possible. I can't wait to go back after summer ends and enjoy my senior year with my best friends doing everything I love the most. Right now though, I'm going to soak up the time I have this summer and focus on all the things I want to do or honestly do nothing at all.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Gilmore Girls
Hypable

In honor of Mother’s Day, I have been thinking of all the things my mom does for my family and me. Although I couldn’t write nearly all of them, here are a few things that moms do for us.

They find that shirt that’s right in front of you, but just you can’t seem to find.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

10 Reasons To Thank Your Best Friend

Take the time to thank that one friend in your life you will never let go of.

4504
Thank You on wooden blocks

1. Thank you for being the one I can always count on to be honest.

A true friend will tell you if the shirt is ugly, or at least ask to borrow it and "accidentally" burn it.

2. Thank you for accepting me for who I am.

A best friend will love you regardless of the stale french fries you left on the floor of your car, or when you had lice in 8th grade and no one wanted to talk to you.

Keep Reading...Show less
sick student
StableDiffusion

Everybody gets sick once in a while, but getting sick while in college is the absolute worst. You're away from home and your mom who can take care of you and all you really want to do is just be in your own bed. You feel like you will have never-ending classwork to catch up on if you miss class, so you end up going sick and then it just takes longer to get better. Being sick in college is really tough and definitely not a fun experience. Here are the 15 stages that everyone ends up going through when they are sick at college.

Keep Reading...Show less
kid
Janko Ferlic
Do as I say, not as I do.

Your eyes widen in horror as you stare at your phone. Beads of sweat begin to saturate your palm as your fingers tremble in fear. The illuminated screen reads, "Missed Call: Mom."

Growing up with strict parents, you learn that a few things go unsaid. Manners are everything. Never talk back. Do as you're told without question. Most importantly, you develop a system and catch on to these quirks that strict parents have so that you can play their game and do what you want.

Keep Reading...Show less
friends
tv.com

"Friends" maybe didn’t have everything right or realistic all the time, but they did have enough episodes to create countless reaction GIFs and enough awesomeness to create, well, the legacy they did. Something else that is timeless, a little rough, but memorable? Living away from the comforts of home. Whether you have an apartment, a dorm, your first house, or some sort of residence that is not the house you grew up in, I’m sure you can relate to most of these!

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments