See You Later, Summer
October 17th, 2025
Photo: Libby Zufi
Writer: Hailey Brandt
Editor: Ryan Carter
After 20 years of hailing from a beach town, it is safe to say that summer is my favorite time of the year. Seemingly endless hours spent on the beach with a cheesy book, perfectly ripened berries, and some of my favorite people by my side–what’s not to love? And although I had my first “real job” this summer interning in New York City, I still found plenty of time for my favorite Long Beach traditions like walks on the boardwalk at sunset, eating lobster rolls at a restaurant on the water, and waiting in ridiculously long lines for ice cream, and yes, it is worth it every time.
And I can acknowledge that I am a lucky girl: my home away from home is the greatest university in the world! But as I moved into my first apartment, reunited with my people, and soaked up the coveted warm Michigan days, I couldn’t fight the heartache of saying goodbye to the best time of the year.
On the last Sunday of summer, and the last night before I experienced the horror of an 8:30 AM class, I was not ready to accept my fate of the dreaded school night. To soak up every last drop of summer, I caught up with friends who had studied abroad the semester before. Hearing all of their stories: the ups and downs of travelling, the unexpected and incredible things they saw, the places they crossed off their bucketlists, the food they tasted, and the classes they took. This much-needed debrief made me so eager for all of the adventures that are in store for me, both close by and really, really far from home. Eventually, I came to terms with the fact that I would be a very unhappy accounting student the following morning if I stayed any longer, so alas, I left.
As I trekked home, I reflected on the scene of these Ann Arbor streets less than 24 hours ago. There were freshmen, frustrated with Google Maps, experiencing their first memories of their best 4 years, and reminiscent seniors, beginning to realize that this was the beginning of their final chapter, and everyone else in between. As a junior, feeling like the freshman version of myself was so far away, and realizing that I am so close to meeting my senior self, flipped my whole perspective of why I love summer. As much as I love a dip in the ocean and sitting in a beach chair with my mom until the sun goes down, it was the spontaneity and the youthful feeling of being home that I would miss the most. And just because the seasons are changing does not mean I have to lose this sense of adventure.
In the first few weeks of the semester, I have had lots of fun and sunny moments like going to the farmers market, walking through the arb, and barbecuing on the roof with my girls. And as I write this piece with only 2 more days until the official start of Fall, I am eager for what the semester has in store: the first concert EVER in the Big House, game days, discovering the best way to cook chicken, and the sense of relief of finishing an assignment with pride. However, what I’m most excited for is the things I have yet to plan, so I’ll have to check back in later :)
