Summer.

It is a season that seemingly all American students use as motivation to push through those spring finals, a season in which the studies temporarily cease until autumn approaches. While absently gazing at the pages of my own Anatomy textbook (“studying”), I often found my thoughts steering towards those distant plans for the summer—the beach! The sunlight! Friends!—rather than focusing on the various elements of the central nervous system.

However, what most of us fail to acknowledge before excitedly packing up our things and heading home for these summery months is that our previous daily routines of bustling academics and constant socialization are bound to shift dramatically. At home, we do not have the convenience of easily messaging a friend to meet us for dinner at the dining hall; we do not have the closer proximity between buildings that we can leisurely walk to, and we do not have the abundance of deadlines that keep us busy with schoolwork.

If you, my lovely readers, are anything like me, this sudden halt in activity could leave you dazed. And not only dazed, but also very confused. Yes, that was intentional.

During my near two months of being practically cocooned within the confinements of my quiet town, where anything remotely interesting requires a heap of gas money, I have become much more acquainted with myself than I had previously expected. I have found myself aiming to take advantage of this excessive free time, but in ways that I could not beforehand while living on campus.

In the unfortunate case of the summer blues having splashed you as well, I have gathered a small list of daytime activities that have been helping me combat the dreaded stagnancy.

1. Volunteering

I am certain that the majority of us here have had the "volunteering is wonderful!" lecture drilled into our heads all throughout high-school. However, we have often had the somewhat pushier closing remarks paired with these lectures, most of them revolving around how appealingly colorful the volunteer experience would appear on our college applications. Volunteering, though beneficial to our reputations and chances of being noticed by our colleges of choice, is composed of much more than we could be lead to believe.

As there are plenty of volunteer opportunities just waiting to be taken during the summer months, there are also incredible experiences linked to them that we can soak in. Volunteering displays utmost altruism; it shows us just what it means to dedicate our time without the physical reward that our society relies so heavily on, and to instead create our own rewards through solely participating and perceiving.

If you would like to dedicate your time (without being paid!) to notable causes, there are plenty of organizations that tend to host charitable walkathons. There is an abundance of summer camps that are held at your local churches (I have helped at a church camp myself a few weeks ago!), schools, and playgrounds that are always seeking willing, helpful extra hands. There are hospitals, fire departments, and EMT stations that could also provide exposure to memorable situations and encounters.

At the end of this little list of mine will be some website suggestions to help you get started!

2. Starting a Garden

For those that know me, or have even only talked with me once, this suggestion is not at all astonishing. I am what you call a "plant hoarder"; I have a rather extensive collection of plants all throughout my house, and let me tell you, my mom is not very pleased.

However, gardening is an ideal summer activity that has some often overlooked benefits. Though, yes, the aesthetic aspect of creating a garden is just lovely when paired with the summer's sunlight, gardening can also provide you with a sense of responsibility that the academic year had once given us. It can create a form of routine, a routine that falls somewhat similar to how we dedicated certain blocks of our schedules towards classes or spending time with friends back on campus.

Only in this case, those blocks would consist of transplanting and watering your growing garden! Though much less stressful than squeezing in assignments in order to complete deadlines, it still leaves you with that sense of satisfaction that arises after completing something worthwhile. Nothing should be stressful anyway—it is summer!

3. Embarking on Misadventures

Unlike previous summers, we now have something that we may have never had before: a car. Especially in the area in which I live, having a car to freely use has served as an actual lifesaver.

Gather up some friends from either home or from school, an envelope of gas money, and make sure that your phone has enough cell data to use the GPS. Or do not even bother with something as silly as a GPS; instead, drive to wherever the road brings you!

Having been on a handful of little adventures myself with friends, I have realized that being away from the familiarity of home promotes feelings of independence associated with growing up. Just like while at college, we find ourselves living without the confinements of home that have always been our comfort zones—although that may seem intimidating, we are only dipping our toes into what we have yet to experience come adulthood.

So, we should be able to carelessly live in these little bursts of independence that foreshadow our approaching lives in the "real world". . .the fun bursts, at least! Soak in the sunlight while you still can, before our aspired careers become realities.

4. Family Time

This summer in particular for me has heavily revolved around spending some much-needed time with family. Though independence has been a wonderful gift during these months of studying and living in a fresher setting just begging to be explored, returning to my roots is refreshing as well. It is refreshing in a different kind of way; it is almost like taking a vacation and finally coming home, which for me at least, results in immediately flopping onto my bed and sleeping for what seems like days.

At times, our newfound weight of responsibilities can take tolls on us. Regardless of whether how far our ever-growing wings are leading us, we will always find our ways back home. The company is constant, the laughter can last for years, and food will always be on the tabletop.

Never take this time for granted—before we even know it, we will be back inside our dorms and only speaking to our relatives over the phone. Whether it be spending the days comfortably indoors or splashing in pools, family time is something that can combat all types of boredom. It is something that will never cease.

In conclusion!

It is inevitable that returning home following the strenuous academic year will throw us through various loops; the sudden halt in the routines that we have established for ourselves may even feel as though you are hitting a wall. Not pleasant.

However, summer is the time for us to unwind, whether we want it to be or not, and it is the time for us to congratulate ourselves for smoothly conquering whatever our classes had thrown in our directions.

As someone who had enjoyed having a routine to abide by on a daily basis, being back at home has certainly shifted my perspective on things. However, by regularly partaking in these four things listed, I have found a less stressful, less pressured alternative to the schedule that my freshman year had bestowed onto me.

I do hope that I have helped you, my dear reader, if only a little! I wish you a very sunny and a very productive summer.

Volunteering Websites!

JustServe!: https://www.justserve.org/

Volunteer Match: https://www.volunteermatch.org/

Volunteer.Gov: https://www.volunteer.gov/

Incredible Volunteering Organizations!

Make A Wish Foundation: http://wish.org/ways-to-help/volunteering?medium=C...

Red Cross Organization: http://www.redcross.org/volunteer/become-a-volunte...

United Way: https://www.unitedway.org/get-involved/volunteer