Every year millions of teenagers across the nation enroll in college. Some travel upstate, downstate, to different states, and even across the nation (or globe) to embark on the college journey. Throughout this journey, we develop memories and friendships that last a lifetime. By the end of the semester, between school work and finals, everyone is ready to be back home to enjoy a stress-free summer vacation. After the hectic finals week concludes, the time to pack everything up and come back home comes sooner than expected. Once the excitement of coming home wears off, you realize the semesters never seem to last long enough. Here's a list of twelve end of semester feels all college students experience.
1. Saying a temporary goodbye to sweet F-R-E-E-D-O-M
Being away from college typically means being away from the protective barrier that is set at home. The moment you are unpacked and settled back in at home, the parental hovering begins. Not that we don't love our parents and guardians, but it is a dramatic shift in freedom. Being awake at all hours and blaring your music is no longer acceptable.
2. Seriously missing your friends
Making friends is one of the best parts of the college experience. College is a crucible of people from all walks of life congregating to obtain their degrees. College introduced me to people from all over the nation and globe. As they say, you meet some of the best people in your life at college. Unfortunately, these amazing people also have to go home for the summer and that home could be even further away from you than college. Facetime becomes the only way to "hang-out" with these awesome folks unless you can afford to drive hours or even fly to see them. Most people just have to wait until the next move-in date to see their new (potential) life-long pals.
3. Saying goodbye to your campus home to go to your actual home
Finding a home away from home is a serious blessing. At the very beginning of the year (if you were a freshman or new to campus), everything seemed so large. It seemed as if you would never remember what building was which and which classroom you would report to at what time. At some point of the year, you were able to navigate your way through campus like a pro and suddenly, it felt like home. By the end of the year, campus feels like your own little city filled with some familiar (and not so familiar) faces. Each campus has its own luxuries and the more acquainted you become, the more you realize you LOVE being there.
4. Parting with your shoebox dorm for the final time
What first appeared as a tiny, not so luxurious little box on move-in day ended up becoming way more than that. Your college dorm is the place that harbors some of the best times, some of the worst, and most importantly - you. After long days of dreadful lectures and exams, your dorm can often be the most zen spot on campus. Leaving this space for the summer is just as hard, and possibly more difficult, as moving into it (and moving in was SO HARD).
5. Leaving your roommate
For most people, having a roommate that is not a family member is a foreign concept until college. Throughout most of your life, your room was the place you could dance (and cry) like nobody was watching. For some, however, this pairing just so happened to align with the stars and birth an inseparable bond. (For others, this paring is the absolute worst and for that, I am sorry.) The things you once relished in alone now become a party for two and you're grateful for that. Your roommate is the person you turn to for late-night conversations about life (that end up being way more important than you thought), a good cry, a good laugh, and a confidant. The inside jokes and hilarious memories made in *insert room number here* are forever indebted to the person who lived through them with you.
6. Missing your hall mates like crazy
The people who live on your floor can often become some of your best college pals. Seeing these people on your daily commute, even just in passing, can be the most refreshing part of your day. Not only that, but who else can you lean on for a late-night chill or a plastic fork because you forgot to pick them up at the store? Hall mates can make the best communities for everything new "adults" need while being away from home. There isn't really another place you can send "Anyone got toilet paper?" in a GroupMe and expect to receive it except when you're at college.
7. Feeling bored without your club and organizational events
College is where we are encouraged to join clubs and organizations that peak our interests. Though they may seem intimidating at first, they soon come to be the best part of college. Joining a group of peers that have similar interests and goals as you makes for one of the hardest goodbyes at the end of each year. After a year of working together on various projects, your fellow club peeps feel more like a family. In the summer, you realize how much these organizations were a part of to your day-to-day life.
8. Missing the food runs at ANY time of night (literally whenever)
The college diet is cheap and inconsistent. The moment anyone mentions food, suddenly you feel like you could eat. Being away from the nest means you can act on this impulse LITERALLY whenever you want. Making a quick trip to the drive-thru at 5 a.m. in college is pretty much the norm. When you are home for the summer, this turns in to quietly tip-toeing to the kitchen trying not to wake anyone up.
9. Craving lunch dates at the dining hall
Meeting friends for lunch dates between calsses at the dining halls is a daily routine. With a simple text, you could meet any number of your pals at the cafeteria within minutes (because it literally steps away). During the summer, that is virtually nonexistent. Also, who knew that being able to pay for food with a meal swipe would be so convenient?
10. Going from ALWAYS having plans for the weekend to sitting at home
Whether you have big plans to go out on the town, plans to stay in and chill, or go to a nice dinner, there is always something to do. In college, everything is an event. From getting dressed to the 9's to hit the clubs or eating junk food and watching Disney movies on Netflix, you can always count on your college buddies to provide you with a great time. Sadly, it just isn't the same back home.
11. Wishing you were at the FREE events on campus
It is not uncommon to be walking to class and notice a random tent giving away freebies. Spontaneous bouncy houses and club bake sales are the standards for a day on a college campus (especially on a pretty day). Everything from potted plants to t-shirts is fair game (and free of charge) during campus events. A lot of clubs and organizations come together to create these events to promote campus connectivity and give students something to do.To be honest, participating in these impromptu events is one of the most enjoyable things college has to offer.
12. Wondering when it will be game day again
The infamous "game day shenanigans" are what every college student lives for. Getting decked out in your school's colors, tailgating, and cheering on your favorite team (your school's team) is the full college experience. In all honesty, looking forward to the next game day is what gets most students through the school week. Unfortunately, we have to wait all summer for football season to roll back around.
