Back to school is everyone's least favourite time of the year. It's time to get ready for all-nighters, assignments and group projects with people you can't stand. Time to put away frisbees, tanning oil and that Victoria's Secret bathing suit you finally got the perfect body for after four months of working out at the gym.

The one thing you might not be ready to put away before the first day of class is that summer fling. That person that you spent nearly every day hanging out with at the beach, going for milkshakes with and slathering tanning oil all over. The question you might be asking yourself: was it just "summer lovin'," or do you want an ending like Sandy and Danny?

The first thing you need to ask yourself is, "Can I see this person playing a major role in my life, or do I just enjoy the company?" The question may seem simple, but the truth is that spending most of your time in the summer with one person might blind you from the fact that this person may not be a suitable long-term companion. Let's face it; it's nice to have someone to get ice cream with and hold hands with at the beach. My beach experience changes when I go with someone I actually like as opposed to when I go with my friends.

Reasons to keep it a summer fling:
The very meaning of a summer fling is that when summer ends, so does the relationship. It's something that both parties know will ultimately come to an end because when summer ends, one or both of you will be leaving; it is meant to be short and sweet. Do you really want to ruin that memory by dragging it out in a relationship that most likely won't last? Then you won't look back on the summer with joy but with sadness and anger that you ever let such an idiot in your life. So why fight the inevitable?

You shouldn't feel ashamed of wanting a summer fling to end. Some of us don't like to classify ourselves in the category of falling in lust. We need to attach something more to it to make us feel better. Who knows, maybe she or he looked good on the beach and you had a moment of weakness. You shouldn't feel bad about being shallow; we all are at least once in our lives. It's okay to admit that there might not be anything more than physical attraction.

Reasons to stay:
Even though you know in the beginning that your summer romance will come to an end, sometimes you don't want to let go. I will be the first to admit that it would be nice to have a summer fling last past September 1 and maybe turn into a relationship. The reality is that it doesn't happen as often as we might like.

If you are determined to make your summer fling last and you think it can be something much more, the first thing to do is make sure the other person feels the same way. Since we tend to be more carefree and relaxed in the summer, continuing a relationship through the school year can be very difficult. It's a different ball game — you are no longer at your parents' cottage. Not only will you be concerned about essays, exams and assignments, but you will also have to incorporate maintaining a relationship with the rest of your stresses. If you're both on the same page, then with a lot of communication, time management and dedication, your summer fling can grow into a relationship.

So when summer winds down and fall rolls in, will you decide to put that summer lust away along with that string bikini and tanning oil, or will you take a leap of faith and take it to the next level?