7 Ways to Make the Most Out of Your Last Summer

To all freshmen, congratulations! You’ve done it. You have successfully completed your first year of college. I’m sure that you’re like me in that you cannot believe how quickly the year has flown by. In similar fashion, summer is here but the next three months will be gone in the blink of an eye. Don’t let the days slip away, make the most of your last real summer. Don’t know how? Take advantage of HC Drexel’s how-to-make-the-most-out-of-your-last-summer bucket list!

1. Play outside- Be a kid again and “play” outside. Especially if your hometown is smaller than Philly, it’s easy to forget what to do when there are ample amounts of grass, trees, and flowers surrounding you. Well, the answer is go frolic! Have a picnic, go to the park, go camping, start a garden—do anything to experience the great outdoors before returning to our beloved concrete wonderland!

2. Explore- If you’re anything like me, it’s easy to be overambitious and make a list of things to do that don’t all quite get completed. Coming to such a historic city as Philadelphia, there are countless museums and tourist destinations to indulge in. I wanted to see everything, but failed to accomplish it all when the Drexel shaft kicked in and I was drowning under the pressure of the 10-week quarter system. I’m sure you all can relate! But don’t underestimate the history behind your own area. Be a tourist! Find a museum, any museum, the only museum near you and go visit. Go on an adventure and discover somewhere or something in your hometown or state that you’ve never seen before.

3. Go to summer festivals- You may or may not be a fan of EDM, but that’s not the only festival season that’s kicked off! There are music festivals, outdoor concerts, food and wine festivals, Italian festivals, and so much more over the summer. You just have to know where to look! Do you live near Roswell, New Mexico? Venture to explore everything extraterrestrial at the UFO Festival! How about you Californians? Embrace your inner Zen and go visit the Wanderlust yoga festival! For more information about awesome festivals near you, go to https://www.fest300.com/festivals/where/north-america.

4. Amuse yourself- When’s the last time you went to an amusement park? If you’re an adrenaline junkie, make a pact with a friend to ride every rollercoaster at the closest amusement park. Looking for something a little less extreme? Go check out a waterpark and ride the lazy river for as long as your heart desires!

5. Go on a road trip- Unless you’re planning on studying or co-oping in a different state or abroad, Philadelphia is probably going to be your new home for the next three to four years. So take a road trip across the country with your friends or family! Grab your passport and venture over the border to Canada or Mexico! A car and a few bucks for food, gas, and motels can score you a pretty awesome summer vacation. Don’t forget to conjure up a playlist to jam out to along the way!

6. Read for fun- That’s right, I said it: read for fun. I understand that the sheer thought of opening a book brings back bad memories of studying for three rounds of midterms and finals, but I promise that some books actually won’t bore you to tears! The best part is that this pastime is probably free. If you have a library card, that is. For those of you who don’t even know where the library is in your town, this is the perfect opportunity to knock out two things on the bucket list in one (#2 and #6).

7. Learn something new- This kind of goes hand in hand with #6. I know that you just spent the last 10 months learning, but again learning, like reading, can still be fun! Not a good cook? Follow a simple recipe and whip up something you’re proud of! Planning to study abroad in the fall? Sharpen your language skills! Or maybe learn how to play an instrument or how to ride a bike or how to tie a knot in a cherry stem with your tongue! Each day offers an opportunity to learn something new.

Summer is a time to be carefree and fill your days with whatever you choose. So, make the most out of your last summer free of classes or co-op. Also, don’t limit yourself to the things on this list! Take pictures and go to the gym and watch a ballgame and pull an all-nighter to see the sunrise and do all the things that you want to do. Now is the time to take a break from Drexel’s fast paced and challenging environment, so get out there and start checking off whatever is on your own personal summer bucket list! Have a great summer, Dragons!