Given the stressful nature of student life at school, not to mention the hectic schedules of Assessment Week, it’s no wonder the first thing we opt for during the summer is relaxation. Tanning, shopping and watching TV mindlessly have their therapeutic benefits, but eventually, our minds and bodies demand more stimulation. When summer comes, remember that a little planning goes a long way, but also that spontaneity in summer arrangements offers you a freedom infrequently afforded to us at school. Ubiquitous sports camps and various community service projects are excellent escapes for a few days or a few months, but some may grow tired of attending the same programs for consecutive years. We have reached an age in which we are suspended between camper and counselor. Procuring jobs at established businesses and companies involves a frenzy of paperwork. Internships are rare. For those with gaping holes in their summer schedules or for others seeking a respite from the banality of similar camps, here are some suggestions to keep you occupied in the upcoming summer months. The days at school pass slowly but the weeks seem to fly by. Many students voice their regret at being too caught up in the “Andover Bubble” and missing recent movie and book releases. Over the summer, instead of idly flipping through various cable channels or re-reading old favorites, plan on watching/reading a bevy of releases you missed during the school year. Make a list of movies and plan to either rent them from the movie store or borrow them from friends. You can distinguish between movies you have an individual desire to see and movies you can watch with friends and family. Set aside either one large block of time or nominate specific days of each week/month you are able to watch a substantial number of movies at a time. Similarly, you can easily make a list of books to read. Although reading cannot be accomplished in the same volume as watching movies, it is still an enjoyable and rewarding pastime during the summer. From voracious bookworms that seek to finish the latest editions of a series to casual readers seeking a fun read, reading is a great way to spend lazy summers. By the end of a couple movie and book sessions, you should be completely caught up. For an easy way to enjoy local culture, arrange to visit museums, festivals and concerts in your area. Besides perpetuated exhibits, many museums rotate their gallery works every few months or so. Spending merely half an hour to an hour perusing the different exhibits can give visitors a sense of cultural enrichment, not to mention a more profound appreciation of the arts. It’s not always necessary to visit “big-name” museums like The Metropolitan Museum of Art—modern art museums in cities are still interesting, but most likely more accessible to casual art fans. Concerts are always appealing to a wide range of people, depending on the musical genre and performing artist. Smaller-scale park concerts are not uncommon to large cities such as San Francisco and New York and very popular with both local citizens as well as fans who are willing to make the trip. Publicized performances by touring artists are also popular and often more energetic than local concerts. Choose whichever you are in the mood for and lose yourself in the music for several hours. Additionally, country festivals are synonymous with summer and provide interesting ways to spend the day with friends and family. Enjoy a multitude of rides, games and delicious food while spending time outdoors in the sunshine. Shopping is an obvious pastime for all of us—forego the trite department stores and frequented shops and set out to find at a few new favorite stores this summer. While shopping at your favorite stores is certainly permitted and still encouraged, it’s important to avoid getting caught in the monotony of styles individual stores offer. Big cities offer a mind-blowing myriad of shopping districts and mall complexes, so it’s important to remember to take advantage of the well-known and obscure retail opportunities afforded to us. On the days when you’re itching to shop but don’t know a specific item of clothing to purchase, choose to wander a shopping borough well-known to you but little-explored. You will surprise yourself with the stores you find and trends you discover. And as always, be sure to leave plenty of time at the end of the summer to shop for furnishings for your dorm next year!
