While I do not regret all of the hard work that I have put into school over the years, reality hit me this summer shortly after I began interning in Washington, D.C.

It is a Wednesday morning in Washington, D.C. It is 7:45 a.m. and I am packed into a dirty, smelly, hot subway like a sardine. This ride on the Metro follows a bus ride and another subway ride prior to this one. The anxiety to get to my destination is overwhelming. Along with myself, there are about 40-50 other occupants on the Metro. None of them look happy; everyone is in their own made-up world induced by headphones, tablets and the daily news.

Eight hours, two subway rides and a bus ride, and I am finally home. The sun sets not long after this, and I go to sleep before my grandfather even does to ensure that I am at work on time the next morning.

Through this experience, I have been given a preview of the realities of adulthood. The experience has really made me wonder whether or not I have used my time at Michigan State University effectively. Should I have gotten involved with more extracurricular programs? Should I have run for student government?

As an incoming senior, my time here at MSU is running short; however, use this article as a wake-up call that your time as a carefree student will one day run out too. I have come to regret the occasions when I truly could have taken a night off, even when I was so sure that I couldn’t. I also regret the times I missed out on that could have been spent with friends.

I always felt that if I was not working on something school-related, I wasn’t doing my job. Being a student is a full-time job and I never wanted there to be an instance where I felt as if I could have put more effort into something. Trying your hardest during a semester and falling short is acceptable, not trying your best is not.

My intention in writing this article is not to depress you, nor is it to discourage you from continuing the hard work you have put into your GPA; keep up the good work! The intention of this article is to remind you that your work has just begun, and while right now you are an extremely busy person, your free time after college will decrease as you move up the professional ladder.

Next time you’re invited to do something fun, do it. Go to a party, a movie, a baseball game. Give up a night of work and get caught up on your Netflix show.

If you are already somebody who has taken full advantage of your free time during college, disregard this article. However, if you are someone like me, someone who has devoted hours upon hours to doing homework and are convinced that school is 100 percent studying, taking a break a few nights per semester won’t kill you or your grade-point average.

I, in no way, regret my decision of coming and working in Washington, D.C. This will go down as the most educational, enjoyable and professionally satisfying summer of my life. I wouldn’t take back my decision to come here for anything. Although I have to commute to work using public transportation, and although in the summer it gets hotter than hell here, I am happy with my decision to spend my summer here.

Aside from providing me with quality work experience, insight into my topic of concentration in school and a behind the scenes look into what I enjoy most, this internship has provided me with a much-needed reality check. After this next year of college, I will no longer be a child by any means, and from this, all of my moments of irresponsibility will no longer be justifiable.

When I return to East Lansing this fall, things are going to change. I certainly won’t stop working hard in school, but every now and then, I will forget what I’m doing for an evening and enjoy my last year of freedom. I’m going to do everything in my power to schedule as many 12:40 classes as possible, I’m going to take naps more often, catch up on my shows and finally go out on a Thursday night.

Matt Fagan is a guest columnist at The State News and is an international relations senior. Reach him at faganmat@msu.edu.