We’ve finally hit mid-April, and you know what they say: April showers bring May flowers… and finals. With only a couple weeks left in the school year, we can finally start to relax. I know I’ve nearly reached burnout, and I’m sure many others have, too, so it’s nice to see that the end is in sight. I’m mentally laying in the warm sun and reading a nice book while I’m physically studying for my last exams. I try to use the promise of summer to motivate me to finish strong. Sometimes, thinking about what is yet to come makes me put down the phone and get to work. What are the things you’re looking forward to over the summer? Here are a few of mine:
Working: I know this sounds a little crazy, but I promise it’ll make sense. Having to only worry about work is much less stressful than juggling working and classes. I can get up, work out, and enjoy my day before I head to work. It feels like during the school year, I wake up with just enough time to get ready for class and nothing more. Enjoying the morning is something a lot of us take for granted sometimes. It’s also nice to increase my savings because of longer hours worked.
Friends from home: Although I live pretty close to home, most of my friends from the area went far for college. I’m only able to see them during the winter and summer breaks, and it’s an understatement to say that I miss them when they’re gone. I love being able to go out and catch up with the people I’ve known since middle and high school.
Free time (with a good book): I’m not the only one who has a packed schedule during the school year; most students, especially upperclassmen, have their plates full right now. Days where you can lounge around and do nothing are unheard of. As soon as I have the opportunity for one of those, I’m going to jump on it. All I need is a good book and a comfortable place to sit, rain or shine. Bonus points if said reading time takes place on a beach.
Time with my boyfriend/family: Again, I don’t live that far away from home, but my schedule is so hectic that I don’t have much time to see my loved ones. I’ve been with my boyfriend for five years now, so we made a schedule that works for us while I’m in school. It’s fine, but I look forward to seeing him more than once every week or every other week. It’s the same with my parents, when I usually only see them when I’m coming and going for work when I’m at home. My parents and boyfriend are a big part of my support system, so sometimes I really feel their absence during the year.
The weather and nature: This winter has been absolutely miserable with the temperatures, snow, and wind. I crave the weather where only a tank top and shorts are necessary, and I can enjoy my time outside. I’ve always been a big nature person and love hiking. There are lots of places to go near my hometown that make me feel connected to nature. I think that as students, it’s really important to get out into nature while we can because we spend so much time inside in front of a screen.
These are some of the things keeping me going for these last couple of weeks. We’re almost at the end, and we’ll be able to experience many of these things in just a short time! All we can do is persevere. For all the seniors out there, the end is in sight. I claim that this summer will be full of freedom and happiness.