Back in like 7th grade, the last day of school was basically the best day ever next to Christmas. No more class or waking up early and a whole three months of ice cream, swimming, bike riding and little league baseball. Summer is when you didn't have to have a care in the world. So why with two weeks until 'peace out UD' am I dreading the summer?

First off, how ironic is it that the weather finally gets nice and UD is twice as fun when we have to leave? And just like school, summer is hard work and once you turn 20 the elements of summer have made a 180. Summer is no longer care free break, it is a time for poor pathetic college students to go home, live with their parents and work long days in order to survive the next college semester.

Last year as a freshman I was pretty excited for summer. No more boring classes and all nighters in the Stuart lounge. I was going to have the longest summer of my life, a whole four months to collect myself, it would definitely fly by. Yeah right. After having so much freedom I was a prisoner in my home. I could no longer throw my clothes on the floor, stay out all night or take a day off for mental health and watch the 'Road Rules/Real World Challenge' marathon in my robe. My parents knew everything I did and I had to get permission. I thought at home I could finally relax and have some free time. Another yeah right. Before I had class maybe three hours a day now I was at work for eight. Catch up on my sleep finally? Not when you have to be at work by 8 a.m. If you really don't want to go to class you don't have to go. Work is not quite the same unless you want to get fired and get another lecture about responsibility from your parents.

Last summer was the longest four months of my entire life. As I sat in my cubicle 8 to 5 punching in numbers and billing people for flushing their toilets (this is no joke), I realized that college summer at home is just cruel. It is a flash forward vision on life. However, I found it to be an awakening to how I'm going to spend the rest of my life. There is no way I can sit in a cube all day everyday'I will go mental. My only summer advice would have to be if you don't have to get a real job or internship for the summer, don't do it. Sure you get experience but you will be doing a job like that for the rest of your life. Do something fun like scoop ice cream or be a lifeguard because you will never get the chance to do these jobs when you are 40. Summer is about being a kid while you still can and those extra couple hundred bucks with an internship aren't going to change your life. Go somewhere fun and do a job that is exciting. There is no place like home but a summer in another city is exciting and allows one to gain street smarts. Spend free time wisely and take as many vacations and road trips as possible.

So unlike most kids I am not in the mood for summer. But this year, not working as a slave to a computer in an office, I have hope that I won't want to die. And hey, at least we have Daytona.