My Extended Summer

Originally Posted:  May 11, 2007

It’s time. School is out and summer begins. The cloud of stress that comes with Finals has been replaced with eager anticipation of summer fun. Everyone is excited, except me. My yearlong summer is nearing the end. 

The last year for me has been like one long summer. Everyone else’s summer is just starting as mine is slowly fading away. I didn’t intend for my yearlong summer to happen. I’m glad it did though. 

The biggest reason for my long summer was probably my lack of classes. I meant to take classes. I did take classes. I just ended up dropping most of them. I started with 16 credits fall semester. I had decided to change my major so most of those credits were for the new major. 

A month into the semester I decided changing majors was a stupid idea. I promptly dropped nine of my 16 credits, leaving me with seven. I should have dropped my Stats class too. I didn’t need it anymore now what I was no longer changing majors. It was four credits though and I didn’t want to be the loser with only three credits. 

The stigma that comes with only having three credits didn’t take me much time to get over. I only signed up for seven credits spring semester. I soon dropped three of those after a teacher change that I wasn’t aware of. I dropped three more after I repeatedly failed to go to class. I really enjoyed the class, but the time just wasn’t working. Two-thirty, that’s crazy. That left me with my one credit bowling class. 

There you have it. My 2006-’07 school year consisted of me taking eight credits. The only other thing I had to do was my job in the schools card office, four plus hours a day, Monday through Friday. I don’t consider it my job. It’s just me hanging out with friends and extended family and for some reason they pay me for it. It’s a great gig.

It’s easy to see why my summer never ended last year. Call me lazy, I know. I was just having so much fun. I saw no reason to ruin my fun. 

Looking back over the past year I can’t really say I accomplished anything. I did get eight credits. Only three of those were good for anything. But that is the only tangible thing that I accomplished. I still wouldn’t trade the last year for anything. 

What did I do then?

I went fluming; fell down some stairs over a Love Sac, attended Waffle Wednesdays and Breck’s birthday party at the Sports Academy. I could be seen at the pool two times a week, and frequently ice blocking. I went running a bit too much, almost ran the marathon, took some pictures at my sweet job and took walks around town for no reason almost every day. 

Those are just some of my events from my real summer. Then the school year began, or as it turned out to be, my extended summer. 

I finally got to leave the worst roommates ever and move in with the best roommates ever. I dropped some classes, then a few more and then more again. I went to California, stayed up way to late every night, showed up late to work every day, had the best Ward ever, watched people do homework and went to classes that I wasn’t in more than I went to the ones I was in. 

I guess I didn’t do anything the last year. Sure I got my eight credits, but I don’t feel like I did anything to get those. I just played, floated around accomplished nothing. Yet, I still feel like I accomplished more in the last year than I ever have before.


I grew up. I’ve felt more comfortable with myself this past year then I ever have before. I’ve changed for the better without really changing at all. My outlook on everything in life has changed.

It’s nothing I’ve done. It’s those around me. Whether we just exchanged glances once, just met recently or I’ve know you for a long time, you’ve all affected me more than you know. So old friends, new friends and those I’ve yet to meet, I’d just like to say one thing to you. Thank you. This past year has been the best over. Here’s hoping my summer fun doesn’t end.