Summer

Lily Pinto (she/her)

Editorial Team Member

When I was younger, the months of June through August were my favorite time of year. Summer was filled with memories of riding bikes with friends, taking family vacations to the lake, and spending weeks at summer camp. Without the structure of school, it felt like a time to discover who I was and enjoy a sense of freedom that was difficult to find during the school year.

As I have grown older, however, my thoughts of summer have changed significantly. What once felt like a break from responsibilities now feels more like an opportunity-if not an obligation-to get ahead. Instead of being a season for rest and exploration of personal interests, summer has become a time focused on productivity, achievement, and building the strongest possible college application. 

Society sets expectations for students by encouraging them to use every moment productively. For many high school students, especially those planning to attend college, summer is no longer a break but an extension of the school year. Students are expected to work jobs, participate in extracurricular activities, complete volunteer hours, attend pre-college programs, take college courses, and prepare for standardized tests such as the ACT or SAT. While these opportunities can be valuable, the pressure to participate can be overwhelming.

As a result, many students spend their summers trying to build the perfect resume rather than taking time to explore their genuine interests or think about what they want to pursue after high school. The expectation to constantly improve ourselves can make us feel as though we are always falling behind. While ambition and hard work are important, summer should also remain a time for balance-a chance to recharge, create memories, and enjoy experiences that cannot be measured by achievements alone.

The overall truth is: colleges aren't looking for the person who had the perfectly curated summer. They’re looking for students who are passionate about what they want to study, curious, and have experiences that actually meant something to them. 

Some of the most important growth we experience as students happens when we don't have a to-do list. It happens in unscripted moments, unexpected conversations, and experiences that can't be planned. 

Maybe the best version of ourselves isn’t the one with the perfect resume, or the perfect life by August. Maybe it’s the version that remembers how to slow down, enjoy a bonfire with our friends, spend hours with the people we live with, or wake up without thinking about what’s next. 

Let this summer be a reminder that life is not another race to win. Instead, let it be a season to slow down, explore, and enjoy the freedom that makes summer special.