Summer used to be the time of the year we all looked forward to. We counted down the very seconds until that final bell at the end of the last day, of elementary school, middle school, and then high school. Now, the end of the year is something we all dread. We can't stand the thought of being away from this wonderful campus, and all the amazing people we've met during our time here.

Summer in college doesn't have to be a punishing 3 months, away from your friends, rotting away in a boring apartment, or in your parent's basement. Instead of being careless children and playing kickball in the street all summer, we are under pressure to be productive and contribute something to society. Either we continue our education into the summer with summer classes, or a study abroad, or we find a job. So, if we have to do something worthwhile over the summer, we might as well do something noteworthy, right?

Get ambitious. Apply for a bunch of internships, work studies, co-ops, or study abroad programs. If you cast a wide enough net, you're bound to catch some fish. Get out of your comfort zone, and experience a new place. Get your blood pumping. Do something exciting and adventurous, something that scares you. Summer the time for you to tackle your fears and grow as a person.

I'm pretty much the opposite of a city slicker. I'm much more at home in a tent in the woods than I'll ever been in a crowded city, no matter how lively and incredible it may be. So you might be surprised to hear that I'm interning with The Odyssey over the summer, in New York City. I'll be completely honest, I'm terrified. Big cities scare me, but that's a big part of why I want to go. I feel like if I can pick up everything and move to Manhattan, and make it happen there, then I can make it happen anywhere. You will learn the most about yourself when you're scared, and you don't know what to do. Diamonds are only formed under intense heat and pressure.

So I encourage you to find your pressure cooker this summer. Find a place that scares you, a place where you know you'll be pushed to your limits, and have your fibers tested to the utmost. Find a place that is going to force you to adapt or else, because you'll never know what you're capable of, unless you cross that line in the sand and take a risk. I promise, if you invest in yourself, you'll get dividends you never expected.