Well, you finally did it: You graduated high school! After four long, stressful years you finally got to walk across the stage and collect your diploma. You survived the stress of applying to college and attempting to figure out what you want to do with the rest of your life. You put the work in, and now that summer has rolled around, it’s time to sit back and relax.
Still, that may be easier said than done. It’s the summer before college, and your schedule is bound to be packed with a summer job, graduation parties, and spending time with your friends during your final months at home.
College is a great opportunity that provides you with new experiences to grow, but it also changes your life in ways that you won’t know about until they happen. So, make the most of this last summer by crossing some things off your bucket list and spending time with the people who mean the most to you.
1. Get a job you enjoy
College is beyond expensive, and although I’d love to spend the summer lounging on the beach without a care in the world, the summer has always been my time to save money for the upcoming school year. But saving up shouldn’t drain you of your energy for the next year, so when June rolls around, look for a job that you are going to enjoy going to everyday. If you want to play around and act like a kid, look for a job as a camp counselor or a nanny. If you’re into fashion, apply to work at local stores or boutiques. Work at a bakery if you like to bake, or apply to be a barista and learn to make a killer latte. You don’t have to love what you do, but try to at least look for something that you don’t dread going to day in and out.
You’ve got the rest of your life to be stressed about work, so try to avoid spending this summer in a bored haze.
2. Make a bucket list with your friends
One of the best parts about summer is getting to spend endless hours with your best friends before you all separate, from coffee dates to slumber parties to mindless heart-to-hearts. It can be easy to fall into a rut if you spend every day with the same group of people, so make a bucket list of all the things you want to do together and create a truly unforgettable summer experience. It can be anything from restaurants you want to try to a day at an amusement park, a day at the beach or a weekend long shopping spree in your nearest city.
Whenever anyone mentions something they want to try, add it to the list and share it with all your friends. Having everything written down will help you keep the summer blues at bay, and you’ll head off to school full of new memories with the people you love.
3. Spend time with your family
It goes without saying that during the summer before college, you’re going to spend most of your free time with your friends. But they’re not the only people you’ll be leaving behind once it’s time to move in. Your parents and siblings are also preparing for a major change in their lives, and though they may not say it so often, they’re going to miss you a lot too.
Make sure that you set aside time and be present with your family, even if it’s something as small as making sure your home for family dinner a couple days a week. Take your little siblings out for ice cream, watch The Bachelor with your mom, go out to breakfast with your dad. Show them that you care, and remind them that no matter how far away you move for college they will always be a priority for you.
4. Explore your area
There’s nothing like walking around the place you’ve grown up in, and that feeling of comfort is something I definitely took advantage of before going away to college. But even when you’ve lived in the same place your whole life there are probably some hidden gems nearby that you just never explored. Try that coffee place you always drove past but never went into or go explore the boutique that opened a couple months ago. Go back to your tried and true favorite restaurants and stores to get your fix of favorites in before you leave. Remind yourself why you love the place that you’re from.
Your exploration doesn’t have to be limited to your hometown, either. Grab a couple friends and drive an hour or two away from your town and see what you discover. Maybe there’s a world-famous restaurant just a few miles away or a cool vintage store in a small town. Do some research and see what other people say about the area you live in. Maybe you’ll find a new favorite place!
Related: 10 Reasons to Attend College Far From Home
5. Cross books off your TBR list
As someone who loves to read, one of the most frustrating things about being a full-time college student is that I don’t have much time to read for pleasure. So, the summer is always my time to do a deep dive into my TBR (to be read) list. In my opinion, there’s nothing better than laying on the beach with a good book, so take advantage of some of your free time and settle in with something good to read.
Whether you read two books or twenty, if reading isn’t really your thing, you’ll at least have a good answer for when your professor asks on the first day what the last book you read was.
6. Go on a road trip
This has been on my bucket list since I got my license, and as I’m about to go into my senior year of college I’m still waiting to cross it off. Take advantage of whatever free time you have this summer and go on a road trip with a couple of friends! Maybe you’re dying to get to the nearest beach or want to go to a concert that’s a little too far away. Whatever it is, long drives always feel less intimidating when you have a couple friends to play DJ and keep the conversation going.
7. Take lots of pictures
This may seem like something small, but the pictures you take over the summer are ones that you’ll treasure for the rest of your life. Everyone gets a little homesick in college. Pictures of your home and your friends aren’t going to fix that, but they will remind you of home and comfort you in times of need. Take pictures of your favorite people and places that you can put up in your dorm and look at whenever you need a reminder of where you came from.
Whatever you decide to do this summer, remember to enjoy yourself with the people you love and celebrate your huge accomplishment. This is a time for celebration, so celebrate! Your future is bright, and the rest of your life is just beginning.