Every summer break is unique, but moving toward the end of my educational career has made me ponder why I often wish I could go back to the summer break of my childhood years. Which period do you wish you could go back to?

Elementary School

I don’t remember much about elementary school summer breaks. I think it’s largely because it consisted of going to the pool, inviting yourself over to friends’ houses and playing outside games, like capture the flag, day-in and day-out. But at the root of it all was the idea of having no care in the world. You didn’t have to worry about money or doing summer work. You just had to do your best at being a kid. Ask any college kid today and I guarantee you at least half respond with the fact that they miss “Elementary School Summer” the most.

Middle School

Movies. Video games. Summer camp. These three activities, among others, were the bulk of what middle school summer time consisted of: the still enjoyable, fun-loving period of our lives where we didn’t want the summer to come to an end.

High School

Here’s where the shift really took effect. Freshman and sophomore year typically consisted of a light, beginner summer job where you would get to still enjoy the freedom of summer. But, as you shifted into the upperclassman phase, the jobs seemed to be a little more established and time-consuming. Add in the new addition of summer homework in “preparation” for next year, and the amount of free time available really began to be cut short.

College

Once you hit college, your outlook on summer has been completely flipped. First, you become engrossed in the beauty of being at your university throughout the school year. The people, the activities and the atmosphere make you not want to leave for the three-month break. Second, you add in a full-time job (not to mention the all-important internship during your upperclassman years) to make up for all the money you spent throughout the year. And finally (and most unfortunately), you complete basically a third semester for the year with the handful of summer courses that will allow you to graduate on time. Do the math on the amount of time each of these essentials involves, and you quickly find yourself with very limited spare time.

Beyond

The simplest way to put it is in question form: “What is summer?” We get so wrapped up in the concept of having a "relaxation" period throughout the first 22-ish years of our lives that when it’s completely gone, we regret having despised it before. A summer that was once filled with pool time, music festivals and reading, is now occupied by work, work and a little more work. Now don’t get me wrong, find yourself a good, pleasurable career right out of college, and that “work” won’t necessarily be just any 9-5. But the point is that after college, the term “summer” will only be applied to the season.

No matter what stage you’re at, get out there. Enjoy the freedom that is summer vacation. Go on a trip. See a movie with your friends. Simply do whatever. Time is regrettably running out.