Spring break is coming to a close as we take our last sip of the sweet taste of summer we were allowed. Many of us are getting back from hiking the great terrain or skiing until their shoulder dislocates. Others are coming back in a sun-kissed daze from spending the week on a random beach coasting the Gulf of Mexico and some maybe getting back from sitting on their well-known couch watching the "People vs OJ Simpson" with their parents. No matter what you spent your sweet spring vacation doing, we are all coming back to reality, falling into our well-known routine and awaiting the glorious summer break. It was almost cruel to have this weeklong oasis because six weeks of school still lays ahead for us all. So, this is a letter of encouragement I will hopefully help aide and motivate you through the next few grinding weeks.
Meet new people
Since we are in the second semester and people have settled into their friend groups, it is hard to think of meeting new people and breaking in new friendships. It is never too late to make a new friend and begin a new relationship. Put yourself out there and shake some new hands — you never know what can happen.
Make memories
I don’t know about you, but some of my favorite memories of college so far have been in the wonderful state of exhaustion you get from studying for hours. Take a study break and go climb a tree with a group of friends, go to a random lake and throw a Frisbee or go on a bike ride around town. There is adventure everywhere; you just have to seek it out.
Study
These next few weeks are crucial to a lot of y’alls' GPAs. Don’t get lazy. Imagine how much sweeter summer will be if you know your GPA is in a great place. It is your choice whether you want to spend the next year making up for your past grades or planning your next internship because you killed it your spring semester.
Be a friend
As we all know, friendships in college cant be tricky. Spending time with friends and being intentional about those relationships is a huge part of building your community and your support foundation. Don’t be a neglectful friend. Make time to meet your friends half way and be updated on their lives. I have never felt conviction greater than when something crucial happens in a friend’s life and I hear it from someone else. Love and be loved. Don’t wait for your friends to reach out to you, be proactive and show them you are thinking of them. Seek and be sought. The summer is going to take a toll on your friendships. Many of us are going in all different directions and you aren’t going to have this special time to share with each other everyday. Take advantage of this time and form relationships you will be able to pick up right where they left off in the fall.
Use this time to your advantage
For me, I am planning for these next few weeks to be a time of rejuvenation. No, I am not talking about getting a facial, I am talking about transformation and growth. Summer is coming soon and so is many different changes. You are going to need a period of time for us to prepare. Going off to serve at a summer camp, going to working for the first time at an internship, going to live with your parents for longer than a few days, going to do summer school, going to travel. No matter what is in store for your summer, use this sweet time we are given to prepare your heart, mind and body for the adventure to come.
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Instead of looking at these next few weeks as a burden, think of them as a gift. Six weeks could change the whole game. So, go out and have a great rest of the semester!
