Working full time over the summer can sometimes make you feel like there isn't enough time to go out and take fun trips. However, I have been inspired by two friends who completely changed my perspective.

They explained to me that the best way to make the most of your summer is to pack a bag full of clothing that can prepare you for any weather-- warm or cold, get in the car and start driving. You never know where you may end up or the people you may meet. I have taken this challenge on to say yes to as many opportunities as I can this summer and I can honestly say I have been having one exceptional summer full of adventure and endless memories.

I have already had the summer of a lifetime by adapting this new perspective. I'm able to commit to my responsibilities at work and with my summer session course, yet I am still able to take advantage of the free time that I do have to say yes to spontaneous adventures and mini-vacations over the weekends. I feel like I always have something to look forward to.

If there doesn't seem to be anything to say yes to, create your own opportunities. Tell your girlfriends to keep next weekend open for some last-minute road-tripping fun. Spend a day doing absolutely nothing to reflect and recharge. Buy tickets to to a show in a different city, challenge yourself to read all the books on your summer reading list or to cook every dish in your favorite cookbook. The opportunities are endless. Small challenges and adventures may seem small, but they provide a substantial amount of happiness and growth.

I've learned that this shouldn't apply only to summer, but for the rest of my life.

Being in what feels like a beginning stage of my life, I want to be able to say 'yes' to many spontaneous adventures, but also say yes to opportunities within my profession. You never know who you're going to meet or where you may end up in the future. In the words of Jeff Sauer, "Experience is the most valuable asset that we have in our professional lives. By saying yes to new experiences, you are making yourself more valuable."

As a young person in the working world I have found it extremely important to say yes to as many opportunities as possible while still figuring out the direction I'm headed in. When I become older and more established, I can learn the art of saying "no."

So thank your Corynn and Chrissy, for opening my eyes this summer to new adventures, new opportunities and a new perspective that I will carry with me next summer and the rest of my years.