Stuck in summer school? It doesn't have to be so bad! This summer I decided to stay at school and get some credits out of the way and so far, aside from occasional studying and homework assignments, "summer school" has given me many new experiences and awesome opportunities. If you're taking classes this summer and are looking for ways to still make summer feel like summer, try some of these things!
1. Explore your city.
This is the number one thing to do to emphasize that you REALLY should do this. Wherever you attend school, the summer is the perfect time to take advantage of the city or town you're in because most likely, your course load isn't quite as heavy as it is during the school year. Take the time to go into town, find out what local festivals and celebrations are going on and go!
2. Make new friends.
Even if you're in class with some of your best friends, take the opportunity to meet other summer school students that maybe you wouldn't have the chance to talk to during the year. Not to mention that most people are just a little bit happier during the summer time. So put on a smile and meet new people!
3. Follow through with plans.
Have you ever been in a situation where you say, "we should totally hang out sometime!" And then you never really follow through? This time actually do it! It's the summer and the weather is nice so there are more things for you to do like go hang outside or have a barbecue. Hanging with your best friends is always fun, but I can guarantee that you'll surprise yourself by having a great time hanging out with different people.
4. Try new food/restaurants.
Embrace your inner foodie and try new foods and restaurants. Challenge yourself to try that one restaurant that you've been telling yourself to check out, but then every time you go out to eat you end up at your usual spot. And anywhere that offers outdoor seating is a must during the summer. Bonus: because it's summer, anytime you eat out on a summer night you should always go get ice cream after, guilt free.
5. Make a bucket list.
Personalize a summer bucket list with your friends you're in school with. Give yourself a certain amount of time to finish the list and say you have to do one or two things each week. Creating the bucket list will be almost as fun as actually doing the silly and ridiculous things that your and your friends come up with. The more out of your comfort zone, the better!
6. Get outside.
When you're not in the classroom, make an effort to spend a lot of time outdoors! Whether this means going on a hike or just tanning outside your dorm room, the summer goes by fast and even though you're spending some of it inside studying, don't take the sun for granted.
7. Take school seriously, but don't take yourself too seriously.
School is important. Even though it is the summer, don't blow off studying for your final exam or rushing your papers. Ultimately you will be getting a grade for your class which will effect your GPA, so it's still important to take your studies seriously. However, there's a fine line between not taking it seriously and taking everything too seriously. I'm the kind of person who loves to laugh at anything, including myself. So remember to take a lot of study breaks and that it's okay to take the weekend to go to the beach or do other summer activities. Don't get sucked up in the stress of school because in reality, you are only in one (or two) classes and you deserve to enjoy your summer.
