I dreamt about being late for Multivariate Analysis and Approximation. During the dream, I somehow thought I could take a shortcut through the beach and then still make class on time. I was wearing a suit for some odd reason and I was getting it quite dirty trekking across the beach that seemed familiar to Bethany Beach, DE (the beach that I work at during the summer). I managed to get lost on the beach and decided to climb up onto one of the lifeguard stands. For some reason I was now wearing lifeguard shorts, but I was still wearing the blazer. The lifeguard on the stand began to yell at me for not running on the beach while I was in uniform and then a bird took a piece of paper from the stand and began to fly away. I was then forced to chase the bird for the piece of paper and as soon as I caught the bird the dream ended.
I believe your dream predominately has to do with your transition from "summer mode" to "school mode." You are moving from a place where you spent many hours and probably almost every day working to a place where you are doing just that. The environment is changing and your mind is just trying to reconcile the fact that you have gone through a major change in your day to day schedule. The suit represents the professional air you wish to place about yourself where as the lifeguard shorts indicate that you also wish to enjoy yourself. The paper may indicate the transition to college and how hectic it can be. Catching the paper indicates that you are now in control of your life here at CMU.
Thank you for the very detailed account of your dream.
