Summer is here— the time of fun, relaxation and a break from worrying.

Since when was that true?

The summer I know is the time for catching up on classes, getting a job and living back home with the parents.

Yes, the trips to the beach are fun, and everyone loves catching up with all of the long-lost family members.

It is during this time, though, that we really get to think about the past year and the upcoming one.

I know you are probably thinking, “Who does this random writer think she is to try to get inside my head?”

The truth is, I’m not. I am trying to get inside my own.

High school is over, as is childhood.

College is stuck in this weird place between being a child and an adult.

We try to cope with this confusion with wonderful summer employment, whatever it may be: internship, coffeehouse, department store, family business.

The main perk about summer jobs is the extra cash to spend on the frivolous vacations your parents won’t pay for anymore.

The bad thing about it is the personal revelation that this is not what you want your life to look like—or that it is exactly what you want your life to look like a few years down the road.

So far, I have spent my summer working a local internship.

It is on the same road of what I’m working toward, but a little far from the intersection I’m looking for.

While I value what I am learning and am grateful for the experience and opportunity, I miss doing what I love; I miss my life in Oxford during the year filled with classes, friends and my job.

One thing that I have learned so far is that in the “adult world” that comes after graduation really is not much more organized or different than what we already know.

I look into my boss’ office and see her on Facebook; I glance over at my co-worker, and he is playing a game on his phone.

Times like these makes me wonder who does the work when the intern is gone.

It is nice to go home after a long, sometimes frustrating day at work.

It is especially nice to go home to a mom-cooked meal.

Wait, what?

The home cooking has been in short supply and the rules and curfews are hard to get used to.

Ever want to blurt out, “I have been living on my own quite successfully for the past year”?

It’s ok. I have kept my composure and have avoided the lecture that would immediately follow that statement.

But at least you get to catch up with your old friends, right?

Negative.

The amount of people who take summer classes is significantly larger than what you would expect.

And the fact that you are not makes you think you probably should—-there goes next summer.

The fact is, we are all working towards our futures.

So whether it be internships, jobs or summer classes, the summer that we always looked forward to in grade school is not the same one we see now.

I laugh as my 12-year-old little brother tries his hardest to stay up all night just because he can, while I am trying to get to bed early enough to be awake for work the next day.

I remember being like him—-never being completely satisfied with my day and vowing to top it tomorrow.

When you’re not where you want to be, find your alley and enjoy the walk there.

The bad part-time jobs will teach you something in the end, and knowing that you can do your work just as well as the people who actually work there full-time is quite a good feeling.

The summer we knew when we were kids isn’t gone, it has just changed.

So relax, enjoy the ride and get ready for next year.