Finals are coming, the weather is warming up, and spring semester is almost over. With all of these things comes the most exciting time (usually) of any students life: summer.

In my friend group, and in many friend groups across campus and across the nation, summer plans have been a really exciting topic. Going on a study abroad trip, traveling to different countries, taking part in a leadership project, and even working an exciting internship have all come up as plans for the summer.

Each of these are amazing opportunities and I know that I'm going to have the time of my life on my study abroad trip (I'm going to Paris, in case you were curious), but I also know that once I come back to the U.S., I'm not going to have an elaborate summer. And I know that some of my friends won't be having exciting, life-changing summers either.

And I want y'all to know that that's OK!

When I come back to the U.S. (and even before I leave), my summer is going to be the same as all the other summers I've had. I'm going to spend long hours working at my local grocery store to save up money. I'm going to read some books, hang out with my parents, and try not to get too terribly sunburnt while also attempting to get a tan. My best friend, Liv, is going to be doing the same thing, but in a different state. The same goes for my friend Josie. We are all going to have normal summers.

Normal summers are seriously underrated. I know that I'm incredibly lucky (and very excited) to be going on the trip of a lifetime to Paris. But I also know that this is probably the only summer that I'm going to be doing this. The rest of my summers are probably going to be as normal as they've always been. And I'm excited for them.

There is such a stigma in the world today that if you don't have the most interesting, exotic summer that you're a boring person. That is not true, nor has it ever been true. The wonderful thing about summers (and life in general) is that it becomes what you make of it. I might spend my entire summer reading books instead of swimming in the Caribbean, but I can guarantee that I will have just as much fun no matter what I do.

Normal summers are amazing. They are fantastic. And you only get so many of them before you enter the real world and no longer get summer breaks (unless you're in an occupation that does, in which case I am so jealous). It honestly doesn't matter what you do during your break, as long as you are having fun and enjoying every minute of it. What you do doesn't define your break. YOU do.