I've noticed that the summer before college is pretty boring. Most people get summer jobs and it's hard to coordinate schedules with your friends. Sometimes, no one has been on a pinning spree in a while or there may not be any new shows starting up on TV that you're interested in. So what do you do? I used to feel that starting something new is kind of pointless because everything is going to change again in a few months anyway. Don't let that stop you! Here are a few things I think are important to do the summer before college to make the transition enjoyable and fun.
1) Change up your look.
So you made it. You graduated high school and you're going off to college in a few months. You want a fresh start but aren't sure how to initiate that in your life. A good way to get a fresh start is to change up your look. Clean out your closet, build a new wardrobe, buy a new nail polish/lipstick color, or even try out a new haircut!
Here's a picture of my new haircut and my makeup organizer. {Feel free to check out my Pinterest boards at
pinterest.com/madiburke/tresses or
pinterest.com/madiburke/dorm-life for inspiration.}
2) Rediscover your core beliefs.
Find out why: why you believe what you do, why you like certain things, why you speak a certain way, why you feel what you feel. This doesn't necessarily have to mean reconnecting with your faith. If that's what it means to you and that path speaks to you, then by all means follow course. But it could also mean to figure out your tastes, morals, or preferences for anything in general (music, fashion, humor, etiquette, visuals, etc.).
High school was a trying time but college is even more so if you don't have a firm foundation yet. That is not to say, however, that you have to have everything figured out by September. I recommend, though, that you go in with both feet on the ground. That is, some sort of footing so that you won't sway to every person's new idea. It may or may not help you find yourself, but it will definitely keep you from losing yourself at the call of every new experience.
3) Travel.
I'm not under any circumstances telling you to go to the Bahamas or Cancun (or wherever else you could go below the tip of Florida) and blow all of your grad money to "travel" and "experience new things." I personally don't believe in stereotypical senior trips. Unless you are traveling on a budget to have a culturing experience, you don't need it. Put the money you would spend on a senior trip in a bank account and save it for next year when you're a broke college student.
That being said, I do think it is important to go somewhere and experience something new, with a little bit of responsibility. For example, I recently went on the first family trip I'd been on in maybe 3-4 years. I came back early for an event, so I drove myself and a friend there and back. I'll also be going to Chicago with my mom for her business convention in July. We are making a senior trip out of it and going a few days early. As you grow older, you realize that your mom is truly your best friend. There's nothing like having a girls night with your mom. Nothing can be more culturing than her tried-and-true advice.
Here's a picture of our view on vacation. Just appreciate the little things, like a sunset or lights on a summer night.
4) "Date" yourself.
Whether it is obvious or not, you should not start a new relationship before college if it's going to go nowhere. There are certain exceptions, such as a couple who's been a long time coming or the continuation of a long term relationship.
Perhaps you've heard of the concept of "self-dating." If you haven't, it is by no means having a romantic relationship with yourself; it doesn't work like that. It is, however, the notion that you can and should tap into your own interests. In the spirit of Parks and Recreation, "Treat yo'self!" Take yourself out to lunch. Go get that mani-pedi. Take time out to just think by yourself and reconnect with your self-worth.
5) Keep record.
Maybe you think you're way past the appropriate age to keep a journal, but you're never too old to keep records of your thoughts. You can keep a notebook of time spent in prayer, write down words when you're feeling overwhelmed, or even just write down what you did during the day. You don't have to be totally emotionally invested, but it's nice to look back and see how your thoughts have changed and matured with experience.
If journaling isn't your style, you can make an inspiration board or even keep a photo album, whatever you like to keep record of this exciting time in your life.
