With only eight days left in the school year, it seems like summer vacation could not get here any sooner. Then at last, finals are over and the shrill of the familiar bell echoes throughout the halls as students run out of their classes into their long awaited freedom. And the first week of break is magnificent.

Sleep. Netflix. More sleep. And even more Netflix. But what happens after that? Many eventually enter the endless cycle of the stereotypical summer vacation until there comes a point in time when summer is “boring.”

However, there are a few different ways to prevent the boredom. We must remember that summer isn’t going to be here forever. In about two months, the school year will begin so it’s best to get started as soon as possible on making your summer one to remember.

Think back to that mental note you made a few months ago to teach yourself how to play the guitar. Or that list of books sitting in the corner of your desk waiting to be read. While many of us may have other commitments or none at all, try something new that is meaningful to you individually.

Once the school year starts, you likely won’t find
as much time to pursue new interests or start new habits. Equip yourself and prepare for the school year ahead by finding new hobbies, pursuing new interests

and making new memories.
The things you decide to do with your summer

don’t even necessarily have to be for you. Volunteer your time for a good cause to give back to your neighborhood and community, because in just a few years, you’ll be off to college. And when you look back on the impact you left, make sure that it’s something you’re proud of.

Now is the time, your time, to make a difference. Whether the effect is one major impact or many smaller ones, the possibilities are endless. Look around. What needs to be done? What needs to be fixed? What can you do?

We live in a time and place where the list of things to do, places to see and people to meet are endless, so being “bored” is not an option. Whether it’s helping an elderly neighbor with their garden or taking care of animals at a shelter, even one day of volunteering is a day well spent.

And of course, just as important, is to always keep in contact with your friends. Take that road trip you guys have been planning since freshman year, or
take a break and go stargazing one night. The time you have with your friends right now is running out because the chance that you’ll have enough time to stay in contact after high school are often slim. So sure, take those first two weeks to be a lazy teenager who doesn’t know the date, week, or year over break, but after that, it’s time to turn off the TV and make your summer one to remember.