For some students, summer is something to look forward to; a much-needed break and a chance to get some sun and have a good time. For others, summer isn’t as easy as that. It’s when they have to leave the school life they’ve gotten so used to and return home for almost three months with no idea what they’re going to do with all that extra time.
No matter who you are, it’s important to make the best of your summer! Here are some ways you can have fun and keep busy over the sunny summer break.
1. There are a lot of summer jobs out there that only exist to provide students like us with an easy way to make money while we’re home. Go out and get one! You’ll be earning money instead of burning through it, AND you won’t have a chance to completely destroy your sleep schedule by sleeping until 2 p.m. every day. That way, when you come back to school, you won’t be walking to that 8 a.m. class with your eyes closed.
2. Make a list of things you’ve always wanted to do to improve your life but never got around to and go out and do some of them. It’s called a summer bucket list. Pull out that list of books you’ve always planned on reading. If you’ve been meaning to start working out, find out the hours at your local gym. If you want to write the next Great American Novel, start writing on a daily basis.
3. Summer is a great time to get out there and start giving back, too. Soup kitchens and food drives. Nursing homes. Animal shelters. Different church organizations. They’re always looking for more volunteers. You’ll feel better about yourself. You’ll be doing good things for people who need it. (And, as a bonus, volunteer work really boosts up your resume.)
4. Road trip! Gas prices may be ridiculous, but it’s worth it. Whether it’s with your friends from home or your friends from Seton Hill, plan a trip, jump in the car, and go. You’ll make memories you’ll never forget.
Some great places to consider that won’t completely empty your wallet: New York City, Hershey Park, Ocean City, or Conneaut. Go shopping in China Town. Enjoy the wild roller coasters and water rides in Hershey. Get some sun down on the beach.
Or if you’ve got bigger plans in mind, there’s the West Coast, Florida, or even the less popular and often underappreciated East Coast. Everyone knows what waits for you in California and Florida, but what about Newport, Rhode Island? From the moment you arrive until you leave you will see sailboats wherever you look, regattas in progress with colorful spinnakers unfurled, and the sailors themselves, dark from the sun and rugged-tough the way that a body-builder will never be. Tour the famous mansions, go on a thrilling cliff walk, and then enjoy a cruise on the water.