Ahhh summer: a time of rest and relaxation—or so you thought.
As students we enjoy having three full months of no planning, no to-do lists, and no obligations. But the sad truth of it is that this mentality can make us lazy, and at the end of these three glorious months, it seems that we have done very little and accomplished nothing. So make yourself do things by constructing a list of things that you want to do, be, or accomplish over the three beautiful months that we call summer.
Here are a few things that you can use to get your own list started:Get a job. The perfect summer must be well-rounded, including a good balance between work and fun. No work means no money, no money means no fun. So find something that interests you—or something that doesn't interest you. Just try to land a job. Sure, no jobs are perfect and you could absolutely hate what you end up doing, but figuring out what you don’t want to do in the future can be just as important as figuring out what you do want to do, right?
Be adventurous. Although work is important, you shouldn’t let your job keep you from having some after-hours fun. There are so many activities, events, and discounts that are unique to summer, so don’t forget to make time for these mini adventures. Research things going on in your town such as a summer concert series or a festival and buy a ticket. If you're staying in Fort Worth, you will have no problem finding such summertime activities to experience, and trust me, you will not regret it.
Make new friends. Over the summer, friends are dispersed and most everyone is looking to add some people to their social circle. If you have found yourself in this position, don't be afraid to start a conversation with some new folks—odds are, they will be grateful that you did. Invite some colleagues, some people that you met in class last semester, an acquaintance, or even people that you meet at the pool to do something. Grab drinks, share a meal, meet up at a fun bar, or find some live music. Before you know it you will have a whole new set of friends. Who knows? Maybe your summer friendship will carry over into the school year.
Be active. Summer is a time to be adventurous, outgoing, and energetic. Although you may not be athletic or find the great outdoors to be that great, this shouldn’t keep you from diving into summer activities. When the weather's nice, go camping or take a bike ride. On a hotter day cool down by going paddleboarding or kayaking. You can even find adventure on a rainy day by going to the trampoline park for some indoor fun. Just don't let a day go by without doing something.
Go on a road trip. Pack up the car, grab some friends, old or new or maybe both, and hit the open road for some out-of-town fun. You may have to be at work on Monday morning, but the good news is that you won’t have any homework to turn in. You can afford to let loose and go crazy because your responsibilities are limited. Whether you're going 20 minutes or 12 hours away, it is important that you just go somewhere that you’ve never been. As long as you are with people that you love, you can’t go wrong.
Educate yourself. In order to keep your brain from going to mush over the long three months of summer, stimulate your mind with a little education. You’re free from reading for school, why not read for fun? Yes, you heard me, fun. Even in the midst of all this summer excitement, you should still try to make some time to read all the books that you keep saying you want to read, but you just can’t find time between assignments to ever crack them open. So make a point to read at least one book over the break—in three months, I think you can read at least three hundred pages.
Fall in love: My most important advice for having a great summer is to fall in love—with everything. Fall in love with a cute lifeguard at your pool. Fall in love with the ocean. Fall in love with a certain color of popsicles. I just ask that when the opportunity for love presents itself, you say YES. We often let life slip through our fingers and forget to indulge in moments of happiness or things that we enjoy. Make a point this summer to actively acknowledge and express your love for something, no matter what it may be.
Whether you’re here or there, take advantage of the time you have off from school. Stay busy, try new things, and above all else, enjoy yourself.
