It’s that time of year again! Sandy beaches and the chill of lemonade, birdsong and verdant green, the warmth of the sun and the world’s coming alive. You know summer is near when you wake up to the chirping of birds, when the bareness of the trees is replaced by vibrant shades of green, and when you are taking a walk and feel life exuding from everything around you.
Almost everyone loves the summer season, but what makes this time of year so special and well-loved? Well, beyond the fact that there’s no school during the summer, summer is a time for self-discovery and improvement. During the school year, we spend so much time focusing on school and our grades that we really don’t have as much time to take it easy and choose our own path. While school is goal-orientated and fast-paced, summer gives us the chance to reflect on ourselves and meander a bit. From the vivid sunsets of the long dog days to the smell of petrichor before a rainstorm, summer is a time to slow down and appreciate the small details of life. The world we live in is unlike anything else, and it is pertinent to pause and reflect on how miraculous life is every once in a while.
In the summer, the seeds planted during spring grow and mature in anticipation of the autumn harvest. Without the growth of summer, there would never be the life-sustaining crops of autumn. In this way, summer is the season to live and take risks in order to achieve the final product. Call a classmate, and maybe you’ll make a friend for life. Pursue one of your interests or research something random. Do something that pushes you outside of your comfort zone.
No one knows which road to take at first glance, so travel down a random road for a bit—maybe it’s not the right one, but that doesn’t mean the journey is any less important. After all, it may help lead you to the right one. However, without the first step, the journey will never start. So dare to shine bold and bright like the blazing sun in the sky, and you will. Summer asks you the question: who are you, and who do you want to be?
