From college student to civilian again

Summer is here, and for most students, the promise of sun and heat comes with a return to homelife.

The city streets of Philadelphia are transformed into Long Island or New Jersey suburbs. No longer are there countless places to eat and numerous things to do. Rather, the boredom of suburban life instills, and trips to "the city" become necessary. SEPTA becomes LIRR or NJT. Taxis and buses... well, they remain, but the standard mode of transportation becomes cars or SUVs.

Waking up at noon simply becomes impractical when you need to be at work at 9 a.m. For those that finished finals early or got an extension to hang around during senior week, the time shift is most dramatic. Phrases like, "I woke up at 5 today" change from meaning 5 p.m., to 5 a.m. Sleep schedules sadly switch off Hawaiian time, and become Eastern standard. From the day that you begin work till the beginning of the following year's classes, staying up for Late Night with Conan O'Brien means sleep deprivation, not procrastination.

The full-time student becomes a student-worker or student-intern. No longer are we autonomous and able to work (or not work, as the case may be) as we like. Instead, we take direction from our bosses.

The student-worker often takes a job that is far below his qualifications or furthers himself through a non-paying internship. Lucky ones land jobs at places that are both financially lucrative and goal-oriented. But the average student is not working for Microsoft, so one's summer is usually something below optimum. The biggest positive here is that when 5 o'clock comes around, most are able to leave work behind and simply relax.

With relaxing comes old high school friends. It is usually interesting to note how different you and your high school classmates are from when you were in school together. Penn students are privileged to tell of the wonders of the "Not Penn State," U of P. And, of course, there are always a few friends find it necessary to share how much better their own colleges are. At the same time, students may make plans to meet up with their friends who go to Penn. One may even plan a trip to visit Philly in order to break from the routine of bored suburbia.

Those in charge, our GAs or House Deans, become parents. To them, it may seem illogical and foreign to stay up for all hours of the night and run rampant. During the school year, these college standards are just that; but the summer demands more structure in the face of no responsibilities. Without the sress of academics, many parents keep college students under tighter reigns during the summer months.

When 5 o'clock comes around, and work is done -- well, that's not always the case. Household chores and busy work are always gracefully bestowed by parents. In addition, the student has not contributed to the house for the entire year -- a lot of household chores must be done to make up for the lost time during the academic year.

Though many of these differences shape up to a bleak outlook and a longing for the return of school it is still summer; there are some positive possibilities.

For the vast majority of students, there is more free time. One could pick up a hobby, join a team, or learn how to paint. One can visit friends, take vacations, and have responsibility-free fun. Weekends are still full of fun, and the joy of the TGIF will bring even more meaning to Friday at 5 p.m.

And, if all else fails, just venture out and see Star Wars II every day.

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