Every year, during the last few weeks of the semester, I get so excited for summer. Every year, especially at a school as demanding as UNC, I struggle with feeling like all my energy is focused towards school, school, school, grades, extracurriculars and building experience that will look good on my resume. But then those few weeks come, and I feel like summer can finally be three months I get to focus on myself.

But then internships and summer jobs kinda smack you in the face, don't they? Instead of soul searching, I'm spending my summer looking for a second job and saving up for my fall semester abroad. And I always think it's funny that the summers where we're usually not working are the summers when we're too young to care about growth. Until sophomore year of high school, my biggest concern was convincing my mom to let me hang out with boys and go to the pool by myself. But now, having just finished my junior year of college, I'm challenging myself to spend the days I'm not working doing more than just laying on my couch watching Netflix, and I'm challenging you too.

Read a book.

Admittedly, I am a HUGE English nerd. I want to work in publishing so I can read books all day long, so this one's not so hard for me. But recently, I read statistics saying that one-third of high school graduates never read another book for the rest of their lives, 42 percent of college graduates never read another after college and 70 percent of adults in the U.S. haven't walked into a bookstore in the past five years, and that honestly makes me want to cry. I know people still read, but come on. BuzzFeed doesn't count. Pick up a real, substantial book. Forget about the worry that your lit teacher won't agree with your interpretation, and try to enjoy something creative. Read a horror novel, read a cheesy romance novel, read a biography on a scientist or fashion designer or the lead singer of your favorite band. Turn paper pages and write in the margins and learn something a teacher didn't tell you you had to.

Drive somewhere.

Whether you're at home working, in summer school living with your best friends and no rules, interning in the coolest city you can think of or studying abroad, chances are you're still going to get some kind of stressed this summer. I'm a firm believer that even the most social people in the world should take some alone time. So night or day, windows open or closed, music blasting or completely off, highway or back roads, drive somewhere. Turn your phone off so you can't even look at your screen to see who's texting you. Get inside your own head, whether you're upset about something or not. Drive fast and drive far and don't worry about the gas tank. You'll probably fix some other worries along the way too, and most of us are a lot nicer and more fun when we get home with a clear head.

Pick up a new athletic activity.

Working out is another one of those things that's just a lot harder for me during the school year. I know a lot of people swear by their daily runs, and they talk so much about how much more productive and positive they are after yoga or a Zumba class, but I'm lazy. If I have 30 minutes of free time between classes and work and sorority stuff and organizations, I'm napping or watching Netflix, not getting on an elliptical. If you're gross like me, try to take advantage of all this glorious free time and run for 30 minutes instead of continuing to be gross this summer. If you're already of a superior athletic class of human, why not add another sport? If nothing else, it'll give you something to say when your professors undoubtedly ask you on the first day of class what you did this summer.

Take pictures.

I know the majority of people reading this are gonna be sorority girls, and we have taking pictures down like it's our second major. But I'm not talking Snapchats, and I'm not talking the exact same pose with the exact same girls in different outfits, I'm talking candids. Take pictures of your best friend talking about how excited she is for the internship she's leaving for next week. Take pictures of the insane sandwich you're about to eat, but keep it for a scrapbook, not for Instagram. Take pictures of the stoplights in the tiny town your mom dragged you to because you were on the couch on your eighth episode of "Grey's," and she wanted to go antique shopping. Print them out and plaster them around your room next year, and remember this summer.

Apply for something you think you don't have a shot at.

I actually did this the other week, and now I'm going to London to study abroad this fall. I took a shot at a program with two spots left, and I got one. Take a chance whether you take this to mean buying a lottery ticket, entering a contest for a million-dollar dream home or a new car, trying for a job in another country (even if it's only your junior year of college and getting it would mean dropping out) or pursuing a research fellowship that the entire country can apply for. The thing I've found out about applications, whether or not you think you'll get what you want, is that when you really WANT something, you rack your brain for what's going to make you worth those judges giving you a second thought, and you feel so damn good about yourself afterwards. Who knows right? Maybe you'll get it.

Actually check off everything on a summer bucket list.

I know there are hundreds of lists all over the internet that are a lot more fun than this one. Find one you like, or hell, make your own, full of things that are realistic and pipe dreams and things to do solo and things to do with 18 other people, and check every one off and photograph every single one. Go to the zoo, go to the beach, get a tan, get a drink, get in trouble. Make this summer one to really remember.