5 min read
“How To Use This Summer To Its Highest Potential”
Introduction
Every time summer break starts, for me, I usually am just lost with no clear path or guidance as for what step to take next. What should I even do? I would say I could do this, or do that, or do that, but usually: it’s “I can do X, or just sit at home and do nothing all summer”. It’s unclear for a majority of us. Unless you’re a graduating senior and you’re about to be off to college in just a few months, then you already have everything pretty much figured out.
Most of you will just get a simple 9-5 job, or serve as a personal contractor of some kind, or even go for an internship. Chances are you have things figured out. And even if you don’t, you’re taking the necessary steps to be figured out. You’ve already written the college essay, received college recommendations, completed the application form, signed up for financial help, and plenty more that I don’t feel like going over.
Life feels peaceful. Finally. Yet, it will only get more, less peaceful, in just the next coming years where you have to worry about becoming independent, responsible, and making your own decisions. We all want to do big and great things, but it requires us to make the decisions that no one else wants to take.
I want you to sit down (which you probably already are) and just listen to what I’m about to tell you. Let’s talk.
A Small Talk on Purpose (continue reading if you’re a graduating senior)
Purpose is the driving factor behind all successful people in the world. Just this morning I saw a movie (not a good habit, please don’t do the same), which is not my usual start to the day; to which I was recommended by someone and felt that I needed to watch it.
And in that movie I learned something really valuable and was reminded of this exact lesson that I always lose grasp of every now and then. What are we without guidance? If we have no roadmap, no goal in mind, and the result is just us mindlessly walking out in the open, what kind of life is that? Bouncing from job to job in hopes of earning more despite not learning anything is no life.
I want, and probably just like you, want to live a life that’s free and full of happiness with the people we love the most.
I know this post is about “how to spend your summer”, but I wanted to briefly get you thinking of ideas. If you’re pursuing a certain major in college, why not go above and beyond to learn more about it? People tend to think that they go to college to learn. But, that’s what they want you to think. No, the reality is you go to college for the degree, plus a sprinkle of knowledge. And, for pretty much all of us, that’s fine to think about. Some of you might be ignorant or unable to accept that fact, but it’s completely true. So much learning can be done here online. The internet really is an incredible place.
What This All Means
If you’re already about to be off to college in just the next couple of months, think to yourself very quickly. If you have nothing in mind, what can you do that will just make you remember this summer all the more?
I know this post is supposed to centered around productivity; but you don’t always need to think that way. Sometimes, it’s good to have a little fun; especially in this case. The summer of your senior year is technically the “last real summer” that you’ll ever have. You’ll never feel as free as you will during this summer. School, at least traditional schooling, is out forever for you. You never have to go back and endure any more struggle ever again. Although college might only be worse, at least it won’t be as low-level as traditional schooling was. Life for some of you will feel so much better.
Getting a side job, temporary 9-5, working with your parents, serving your local community, participating in side-projects out of curiosity and fun are all options. If you want to take advantage of your summer the most you can, go for it. I would recommend it.
Spend This Summer Like No Other
What I mean at the end of the day is that this is technically the last “summer” you’ll ever have. This is the last summer, finishing from a year of traditionally-held schooling, that you’ll ever have ever. You’ll never get another one again. You will only realize this years down the line when nostalgia hits you like a bus.
So if you wanna go out with friends, hangout with the people that you’ll probably never talk to or see again, then go for it. Live the last few years of your life being a teenager. Because in a few months, you’ll be expected to act and behave like a full-grown adult despite not even resembling one physically or mentally (for most of us at least).
Whatever makes you happy. Do it. You’ll never get this chance ever again; so if you waste it, you better be sure you wasted if for something that was worth it. People always talk about how they miss the past, wish they could relive it once again, and have the same freedom they once had in high school. Well, they’re describing the exact same situation that you’re in.
So please understand. This is the last opportunity you’ll get, so don’t waste it. No one will make the decisions for you.
For Non-Seniors:
If you aren’t a graduating senior, then you’re in luck! You get to waste your summer.
Kidding. What you actually want to do is the exact same thing I recommended to the graduating seniors, just not as lenient. You guys still have a summer or two, or more left to go, so you have plenty of time to do whatever you feel like doing.
I will give you the same advice: whatever it is that you think will drive you the furthest to you career aspirations in the future, do it. Don’t give it up just so you can have time to hop on the game every night and sleep late at 2:45 AM. No, please don’t do that. I’m not saying you shouldn’t do it every once in a while either.
If you’re in high school, no matter the grade, you should always spend your summer productively doing something YOU find impactful. What’s significant to you?
What Do You Find Significant?
This is a troubling matter for lots of us. So I’ll just clear it up. If you know what you want to pursue as a career, you already should have an idea of what to do. Go with that. If you don’t, then don’t worry. I didn’t either when I was in my first two years of high school. I thought I did, but I didn’t. But it really wasn’t a problem!
I did thing after thing, did research upon research, and landed on a career that aligned with my passions and interests. That’s the wonderful thing about life and about summer. With so much time on your hands, you can spend as much as you want just discovering who you think you want to become. Not everyone wants to work in the field of computer science, and that’s fine. It pays well, but is so unbelievably saturated; my god, why even bother if I don’t even like technology or math that much?
Do absolutely anything that gives you an idea of what to do. Literally anything. Just don’t sit around and do nothing. That is one of the worst ways to spend your summer.
And If You Don’t Plan on Going To College:
If you don’t have the money, or are in the right position to go to college, then there’s no need to worry either. Of course, you’re going to have to find a job in order to pay rent and help out with bills at home, so that’s priority #1. If you’re still young, and not at the right age yet, then I’ll give you practically the same advice: what is the thing that grabs your heart the most? What is that one thing that you can do for hours and hours that seems to never bore you?
Whether your answer is writing songs, streaming, playing sports and scrims, participating in online tournaments for big prizes, whatever really. It doesn’t matter if it seems unpractical and almost like a bad idea to someone; because at the end of the day, all that really matters is your opinion. If no one has your back, and you are in doubt, then why continue? All the support you need is within you.
Honorable Mention: Fast-Tracking Success
Before I continue, I please ask that you first define what “success” is in your eyes? Is it living in a beautiful home? Having a large family? Meeting and marrying the perfect spouse? Okay wait a second, we’re getting way too ahead of ourselves. This is not success in our eyes; not just yet. That is way too far from our perspective.
When I say success, I mean like “short-term success”. This means the small goals (that are still massive to you) that you want to accomplish along the way. Do you want to meet a particular person? Is there an event you want to attend? Is there a question in your mind that you want to clear up or just utterly forget?
Don’t even begin to think about the long-term goals that practically define the entire course of your life. That’s way too much to think about right now. Just focus on what you can reach, and the goals that are just barely conceivable. Don’t choose things that seem in arms’ reach. Why? Well, it’s usually because they’re too easy or straightforward to get to. But please don’t choose goals that aren’t really even goals but are rather just dreams. We’re not there for that yet.
Don’t get me wrong, we all want to accomplish the “big dream” that defines our life’s success, but that’s, again, a long walk away from where we are now. Do the things that make sense. Take the steps that are just barely in your line of sight. If you don’t think you can do it, but your heart tells you that you can; but will take you all of you to get there, then chase after it. You probably don’t know exactly what I’m talking about. That’s fine. The time will come.
Step-by-Step Plan
- Define success (short-term goals).
- Define why this short-term goal is just barely conceivable to you, and what makes it that way. How much will it cost you to get there, and is it worth it? If so, why is it?
- Create a step-by-step plan to achieve every mini goal leading up to that larger, overall goal.
- Take the necessary steps everyday to complete every mini goal.
- Explain to yourself everyday that “I know it will be hard. It was never going to be easy. And that’s okay. I will not stop, I will not quit, I want this. I really, really want it.”
- Why does this matter to you? Why will or won’t it matter to your family? In what way will it bring you closer to your dream?
- Repeat steps 3-6 for every new short-term goal, leading up to the main dream that defines your life.
And, small yet important lesson: Never forget that the hardest decisions in life require the strongest wills. You have to do what no one else is willing to do, and swallow all your pride, happiness, and mental health for a “sick dream” that is nothing but a blank canvas until you’ve finished painting what the whole time, was, a masterpiece. (and yes I copied Thanos’ quote for the first part)
Conclusion
Summer is the only time you’ll get in your 4-18 lifespan that you’ll get all to yourself. You get years’ worth of it every year, but it’s only when you’re about to be off to college that you realize what you could’ve done with it all your life. Please don’t make that same mistake if you’re not a graduating senior yet. And even if you are, don’t forget that just because it’s your last summer ever, doesn’t mean you can’t make it the best. Enjoy what others will never get to have again.
