You're probably scratching your head right now. "Chelsea, you're crazy. Summer is not underrated. Everyone loves summer. There's time off from school, warm weather, days at the beach, more sunlight and longer days." You're absolutely right, except those reasons are superficial. I think that summer is not only good for fun, it helps mold us and form us as people, especially when we're younger.

Some would argue that summer vacation, or the break from school during the months of May, June, July, and August are unnecessary and outdated. There is a myth, a pervasive one, that the original summer break was planned around an agricultural calendar, with the children of farmers slaving away in the fields during the hot summer months. The reality is that summer break was a reprieve from the stuffy school buildings with no air conditioning. So really, there's just as good a reason as there's ever been. We all still want to enjoy fresh air, participate in summer sports, and not be subject to trying to learn in a puddle of sweat.

But it goes deeper than that. I would argue that summer is a time for real-world learning, especially in our modern culture and educational system. There are so many ways that the United States is lacking in educationally, which I won't even delve into now. However, we know that American performance rates have been dropping in comparison to the most successful systems in the world. Summer is wide open, and we need to start taking better advantage of that time.

The way children learn best is through play. I firmly believe that adults also learn best through "play." Now, that doesn't mean I think teenagers and grown adults need to go sit in the sandbox or play a game of kick the can to advance their learning, but I do mean that when we actually enjoy our learning, it sticks. We should be using summertime as a time for opportunity. Many public libraries have free and extended programming in the summer with prizes and contests. Festivals of all kinds are held in cities, big or small. Summer is the time to take a road trip, to enjoy the scenery, to learn patience, to learn how to drive on the highway, and to appreciate the rest of the country. All of these experiences are fun, but they also provide us with an opportunity for growth on a social and cultural level.

Especially for teenagers, but also for children, summer is the perfect time to learn how to work. A part-time job is the first step on the staircase to becoming a well-balanced adult. And for younger children, it is the perfect time to be taught that a good work ethic doesn't stop just because school is out. Play is important, but extending yourself in service and in labor is also very important. Most of us will grow up to work through the summer, and even those of us who become teachers or seasonal workers will need to come home and keep up our house. Learning how to work hard is essential to living, and summer is the perfect time to start or continue that learning.

Remember this summer to put your time to good use. Yes, you could sit around the house for a day or two. But after you've had your fill of being lazy and relaxing in the comfort of your home, get up and do something! Go to the park, plan a vacation with a friend, read a nonfiction book in a subject that interests you. Pick up a few volunteer hours at a local shelter. Write a letter to your representative or senator about something that matters to you. Visit a Renaissance fair or a cultural festival. Make your summers count for something, because the day will come sooner than you think that the summer will be already filled, and you will look back at the summers past and wish you had prepared better. There is always something wonderful to be done. Go do it!