Summer is probably one of the hardest times to be a student. Everyone around you seems to be on vacation, going to concerts, spending time outside, or just enjoying having nothing to do. In the meantime, you’re still worrying about exams, assignments and getting through your classes. When you’re in a program that runs year-round, it can almost feel like you’re missing out on summer completely. But I’ve learned that being in school doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy the season.
One of the biggest things I’ve had to remind myself is that I don’t want to spend my entire time in school waiting for it to be over. It’s really easy to fall into the mindset of, “I’ll do that when I graduate” or “I’ll have more fun once I’m done with school.” And while there will definitely be more free time after graduation, I don’t want to look back and feel like I spent all of my 20s studying and waiting for the next stage of my life to start.
School is important, but it’s not the only thing that matters.
Sometimes, It’s About the Small Things in Life
Even if you don’t have a full summer break, you can still make time for the things that make summer feel like summer. That may mean many things. Going to a concert after class. Getting dinner with friends. Spending a Saturday outside. Taking a weekend trip. Going to a baseball game, or even just sitting outside with a drink and enjoying the weather. You don’t necessarily need a week-long vacation to feel like you actually experienced summer. Sometimes it’s the smaller things that end up being the most memorable.
I also think it helps to plan those things instead of waiting for free time to magically appear. When you’re busy with school, there will almost always be something you could be doing. If you wait until you have absolutely nothing on your schedule, you might realize that the entire summer passed without doing much. Look at your schedule, figure out when you have some breathing room, and make plans around it. Having something fun to look forward to can honestly make a stressful week of school feel a little easier.
Give Yourself a Break!
At the same time, I think it’s important to give yourself permission to enjoy those plans without feeling guilty. As students, we can be really good at turning everything into a productivity competition. If you’re at the pool, you might be thinking about the assignment you should be doing. If you’re out with friends, you might be thinking about the exam you have next week. Even when you’re technically taking time off, your brain is still at school. Sometimes, you just have to let yourself be present and enjoy the time you’ve given yourself.
And, summer doesn’t have to be productive all the time, either. There is so much pressure to constantly improve yourself, learn something new, work out, get ahead in school, build your career, or accomplish some huge goal. Those things can be great, but sometimes it’s okay to just enjoy your life. You can sleep in, go out with your friends, watch a movie, spend too much money on coffee, or do absolutely nothing for an afternoon. Not every moment has to contribute to your future.
Just Be Present
At the end of the day, being a student is temporary. There will be plenty of time to work hard, build your career, and worry about the future. But you’re also living your life right now. So even if you’re still in school this summer, try to get outside, make plans, see your friends, take the trip, go to the concert, and enjoy the warm weather while it’s here. You don’t have to choose between being a good student and having a good summer.
You can work toward your future while still making memories in the present.
