In elementary school, saying goodbye for the summer holidays was never really goodbye at all. You knew you’d see Samantha again once the summer was over; you knew Jeremy was going to be there to annoy you once you came back for the fourth grade. Those two months of vacation time were pretty much what you lived for, and the end of school meant nothing but celebration. That changes once you hit university. For one thing, those six to eight weeks of summer turn into four months of full-time internships or exhausting camp counselling. Those friends you had hoped to see more of suddenly are back at their parents’ house, a five-hour drive (or flight) away. For many, the summer months mean slightly less freedom under the roof of their parents, slightly more stress without dorm housing, or slightly higher costs with the cold demands of the Canadian housing market. Regardless of one’s living situation, the summer months hold some elements of disadvantage.
One of the major downsides of a summer away from Redeemer is not getting the community living and high-energy social life that comes with being a full-time student. No more living with eight people who are all equally okay with frozen pizza for supper every day, no more ridiculously unhealthy sleep schedules, and no more late-night roommate snack runs. There are certain things that you miss when going home after your first year of independence, and there are certain reality checks that you hate to see coming.
For first-years, the end of term may mean the first time being back home for more than a week at a time. The transition back home after your first year of university can be equally as disorienting as your first week at university. It may mean the first time working full-time, a unique transition as the reality hits that summer holiday isn’t really a “holiday” anymore. For those who don’t get to continue hanging out with their Redeemer friends, it may also mean a summer of anxiously hoping that your second year will hold just as many fruitful friendships as your first.
It’s sometimes difficult to say goodbye for a four-month period. It’s not quite long…but it’s also not quite short. University isn’t like elementary school—you can’t expect that everything will pick up exactly like it left off when you get back. In order to re-enter school well, it is important to say goodbye well.
For some, this may just mean a hug and a promise to room together the next year… But it won’t be that simple for everyone. Four months may go by fast, but they can still hold a significant amount of growth and change. You can’t expect that everyone you meet will be the same coming back to school as they were leaving school.
Know which people will require continued effort over the summer if you want to maintain your relationship with them. Know which friends will be there for you in the same way even if you ghost them all summer, and which friends you risk losing if you don’t show intentional care and effort. These people could be friends for the rest of your life, so it’s essential to put a respectful amount of thought into how you will maintain a connection with them even throughout the busyness. Here are a few quick steps you can take as you go into the final month of the semester.
Regardless of how you decide to say farewell, just remember to honour your friends and honour the time you shared with them. Ensuring you end your semester well will help guarantee you start your next semester even better.