For the past few months, students, as well as professionals, began learning to master the art of working remotely. Just when the semester finished and I finally had time to binge a quarantine’s worth of Netflix shows (Outerbanks, Never Have I Ever and Hollywood all in two days, crazy right?). After a weekend-long of marathoning with my blue light glasses on, a thought completely slipped my mind. 

I registered for summer classes. 

My summer vacation quickly came to a halt once my Canvas refreshed to display two new courses. Already? Time to take another quiz while pressing “control f” on the syllabus, new programs to download (Adobe Creative Cloud is free for students until July 6, bless) and the age-old battle of if I should purchase a textbook or not because the likelihood of actually opening the book slims each semester. 

One of these courses consists of me writing a weekly report describing my summer internship. Knocking out an internship and 3 credits all-in-one? A steal!

In addition to this internship, I plan to continue my position as editor-in-chief for an online publication. We’ve been remote for years, so I’m already ahead of the game on that end. Between an internship, a job and classes, you might ask “You’re 19! When do you get to enjoy your social life?”

Silly, silly question. I don’t have one. Don’t get me wrong — I used to. I totally would have one if it weren’t for COVID-19. Unfortunately, I am extra limited living in the New York City area. When I see my friends back at school in Florida going to restaurants, having boat parties and taking beach trips, I definitely resent my parents for forcing me to come home. 

I consider myself a pro at remote working already. I mean, yes I am lucky that I can work unpaid jobs to build my resume right now because I, fortunately, live under my financially stable parents’ roof. I’m not going to get into that but I would be inconsiderate not to acknowledge it. These two months in quarantine haven’t been a challenge for me.

I wake up much later than I would need to if I was actually going to work. I bounce between assignments, phone calls, Zoom meetings and editing all day long, break for dinner and continue for most of the night. Once the clock hits 9 p.m., I usually evacuate from my mattress and head downstairs. I mindlessly binge reality TV (I don’t know why I can’t stop watching Dance Moms. It’s addicting) while completing all my unfinished work from the day, hoping to be done by midnight.

The cycle continues, and I’ve gotten used to it by now. However, I don’t go back to college until August 31, if we even have a fall semester on campus at all. That’s almost four more months. I’ve managed the two, what am I going to do by month five? Soon I will be so desperate for social interaction that I will start waving to my neighbors when I take my daily walk. (More like monthly. I’ve gone on ~2 walks since I’ve been home)

Anyway, as any Virgo, Enneagram Type 1 or ENTJ, (whichever you understand) I thrive off of being busy. I need constant work to do. I need schedules and rules and guidelines, and I probably always will. But, I’m 19. I also need a balance. I need to relax, hang out with friends and get out of the house. Here’s to hoping that the temperature will tick about 65 soon so I can at least get a tan or something.