When the school year began students were already counting down the days until summer. After almost nine months the countdown is almost over and the season of sun and beaches are upon us. While some take advantage of this break to prepare for the next school year or SAT prep classes my summer will be reserved for relaxation before my final year of high school.

As a junior, I can say that this has been the most stressful year for my peers and with testing almost done most of us are finally getting a much needed break from studying all year. Before this year I planned to spend this summer immersed in college research and internships. I still plan to complete those things, but after almost 12 years of schooling I realized that this summer can’t be all about school as everyone is entitled to a break.

Many parents have expectations for their child over the summer with extra classes and overall the desire for their kids to be productive. However, with the sun out and no deadlines it’s not likely that any of us will be spending time worrying over school rather than watching Netflix and hanging out with our friends.

Although everyone needs a break I believe it’s still important to take this time and address everything that needed to be done throughout the year. Spending the whole summer holed up in a bedroom binge watching a show can become somewhat boring and it becomes a matter of how productive you can be. I hope to construct a loose plan of what I need to get done without implementing a strict schedule for myself and I think that aids in the trouble of finding something to do.

No matter what you plan to spend your summer doing, everyone can agree that after this strenuous year time off from school will help to relieve stress that everyone faced. This summer is an opportunity to try new activities and get out of the same routine we’ve had every single day since the beginning of the year.

Sincerely,
Sydney