After working so hard this past school year, and having the time of my life, it’s still difficult to appreciate the fact that another school year has passed. It’s finally setting in that summer is officially here, and I finally think I’m ready to embrace all that summer has to offer.

Besides the excessive tanning, Netflix binging, and lack of responsibilities that summer has in store, sometimes it’s nice to give yourself some sense of responsibility. While it’s nice to be lazy, it is also extremely rewarding to accomplish something over the summer.

This something can be anything from finishing 14 shows on Netflix, reading a book (if people still read, which I hope you do), getting an internship or a job, traveling the world, or achieving your summer body goals you’ve been talking about since 10th grade.

Personally, I plan on achieving all of the above this summer. I’m about to leave my home friends and embark on a journey to the big apple to get a taste of the real world at an internship. If you’re anything like me, change is probably something that’s really difficult. I’m not sure how I’m supposed to leave my people and start over for an entire summer.

I’ve learned in the past that every new experience teaches you something and exposes you to new people and memories, but having a week break between school and my new summer life isn’t giving me a ton of time to realize the change I’m about to endure.

It seems impossible to say bye for now too so many people, but I keep reminding myself that I’ve done it before and I can do it again, and doing so will be extremely rewarding.

While I’m super excited and anxious to begin this opportunity that I am so lucky to have, it is super easy to get overwhelmed by all of this summer planning and that’s why it is so important to remember the “vacation” part of “summer vacation.” While having a job, internship, or both, is so amazing and will be so beneficial down the road, remember that you work so hard all year and deserve a break, and summer is that break.

I’m the type of person who has to constantly be told to chill for a minute and take a second to breathe. Lazy really isn’t a word in my vocabulary. In running around all summer between an internship, a job, and seeing family, it’s so crucial to have some “me time,” because when school starts again in the fall, I know I’ll regret not giving myself time to breathe.

In order to balance the mission to accomplish so much, but also relax, get some sun, and have some much needed “me time”, as odd as it sounds, it may even be necessary to schedule breathing time in my calendar; just so I know I won’t forget it.

So remember to chill out, kick back, and enjoy the sun. Love yourself this summer and love your life, make this summer the best one yet!