Last week when I was bowling with my friends a thought occurred to me: Summer is more than halfway over. Even with an internship, a job, and a group of friends in my home of Richmond, Va., I still feel like I’ve been taking the break for granted. This next month is crucial in making the most of my summer, because whether we are working full-time or have no obligations, summer break is a sacred time for students. When we go back to school we need stories and experiences prepared for the inevitable “How was your summer?” question. The following activities are my recipe for a fun, productive, and adventurous summer.
Try something new.
I don’t remember the last time I went bowling, and when my friend suggested it I was skeptical, but AMF has a Tuesday special where games and shoe rentals are only $2 each, so I went. I was surprised at how much fun everyone was having because it was the first time we had done an activity besides sitting in a 7/11 parking lot or at someone’s house talking about how bored we are. It doesn’t have to be bowling, but in any city there are fun, cheap activities. For Virginians, I recommend visiting Humpback Mountain in Charlottesville.
Read.
Summer is the only time during which I can read for pleasure, but because the reading is optional I don’t often have the motivation to reach goals like reading 10 books this summer. I’m on Book #3, and my negative side tells me that reading 10 is impossible at this point. The reality is that even reading one book is a triumph during the summer when it’s easier to watch Netflix. I always try to set expectations because I like to track my progress and challenge myself to voluntarily read the classics, like Oscar Wilde’s "The Picture of Dorian Gray."
Hang out with different people.
Whether it’s people you haven’t seen since high school or coworkers at your internship, summer is the perfect time to rekindle or form those friendships. I always hesitate to text someone I don’t keep in touch with during the year, but when I make the effort I feel rewarded. It’s easy and comfortable to get in the same rhythm with your best friends when you’re home, but it’s refreshing and exciting to connect with other friends or acquaintances because they could lead to lasting friendships in the long term.
Become a member.
Joining an organization or club makes you feel included and accountable. I joined Hot House Yoga studio this summer; at first I only went because I felt obligated to use my unlimited 60-day pass as much as possible and because I wanted to become more flexible, but the more I go, the more the more I love it. The instructors try to learn my name and greet me when I come back. Even the most remote city or area has a gym, religious group, book club, or another organization of which you can be a part.
Make a summer bucket list.
I’m currently drinking my way through Richmond’s best coffee shops, according to Yelp.com, as part of my “Coffee Summer Bucket List.” I have tried to go to one a week and because they are in different neighborhoods of Richmond I’ve learned more about the city as a result. Sometimes I go alone and read and other times I invite friends, but either way I’m out of the house and away from my bed or the TV. I also feel like a food critic as I take mental notes, such as "I thought Captain Buzzy’s Beanery had really bitter iced coffee, but they win points for innovation with their non-diluting coffee ice cubes and for having board games like Life for the customers."
Through these activities I upheld my motto for the summer: No regrets. I don’t want to go back to school wishing I had spent my time differently, so I try to stay active and go outside my comfort zone. Of course, there isn’t one “right way” to do summer. That’s the beauty of it. Any of these activities can be substituted or omitted, but I hope that my advice leads to some more exciting answers for the daunting question about summer break when we return to campus. I plan to make this next month the best one because summer is my time – but not my time to waste.
