Student Blog: My Summer Vision Board

As we approach the final week of classes, I can only focus on one thing: summer. Though it’s still April, I’ve recently gravitated towards things that “feel” like summer. So, to get through this last week of class and the subsequent week of finals, I’ve decided to make a sort of “vision board” full of things that have made me most excited for the season, and things that I anticipate filling my summer with.

Reading & Writing

This is going to be the summer of creative energy! Like many people, I’ve re-discovered my childhood love for reading this year, and it has become one of my favorite activities when I need to decompress and spend some time alone with my thoughts. Reading is also a great activity for a beach or pool day, which makes this the perfect summer hobby. Lately, I’ve been catching up on reading plays that I missed on Broadway last summer and fall, with my most recent read being The Cottage. Reading never fails to get me inspired to write, so I’m including writing on the list for any other writers who, like me, struggle to keep their creative energy up during the school year…this is our summer! Find a coffee shop with lots of natural light, or clear off your desk and open the window, because there’s never been a better time to start on that one project you’ve been planning out.

Lavender Iced Lattes

Surprisingly, this has been one of my go-to orders this month. I wasn’t originally a fan of lavender-flavored food and drinks, but a local coffee shop flipped my vote last year when their specialty drink was a lavender-blackberry iced latte…this drink was life-changingly good. Ever since I first felt those initial traces of summer creeping into my life, I find myself constantly craving a lavender iced latte. Pro tip: for places that have a more bitter lavender flavor, I’d recommend adding vanilla to balance out the taste!

Pub Subs

This addition is exposing the Floridian in me; like most Florida kids, I was raised on the infamous “Pub Subs” (aka subs from Publix), and lately they’ve been my go-to for a quick and easy meal when I’m on the go. One of my favorite meals to take to the beach over the summer is a Pub Sub and some watermelon, which is another one of my favorite snacks!

Beach & Pool Days

With all the sunny, blue-sky days we’ve been having recently, I’ve been dreaming of a beach or pool day. There are countless things to do at the beach, from watching the sunrise or sunset, to reading a book, or even bringing bracelet-making materials and making a fun craft with friends. On a nice day, sitting on the beach and listening to the waves is one of the most relaxing things to do. Not to mention, that after-sun feeling is the epitome of summer.

Summer Playlists

Nothing brings back nostalgia quite as quickly as music, and I’ve found that one of the best ways to capture the essence of a season is to make a playlist of all the music I listened to most during that time. I’ve made playlists for the past two summers and intend to make one this year as well. Listening to the two I’ve already created reminds me of memories I’ve made over the years and builds excited for the memories to come. I also created a playlist of general music that reminds me of summer, which has been on repeat in my car.

Mamma Mia!

What better to add to your summer playlist than the classic musical of the summer season, Mamma Mia!? This has been one of my favorites for years, and every time I hear the music, memories flood back. My sister and I have a tradition of watching the film every year on the first day of summer vacation; everything about Mamma Mia, from the fashion to the music, screams summer!

Taking More Photos

I don’t mean “taking more photos for social media,” I mean taking more real photos; photos that will serve as reminders of the feelings a moment held, ones that will capture the tiny details that could otherwise be lost to time.

Building a camera roll full of special memories could also lend itself to a great end-of-summer craft: scrapbooking! A summer scrapbook is a great way to store memories, and it’s a fun activity to do with a group.

Saving Up

I’m choosing to romanticize my summer job because my bank account doesn’t get a vacation. It may seem like everyone gets to take a couple months off from work over the summer, but I promise that this is not the case. Don’t beat yourself up over working that summer job, it’s what pays for the adventures. Allow yourself to do something fun before or after work (it doesn’t have to be an activity that costs money, you can even go on a walk); change up your days in the slightest ways to avoid feeling “trapped” (maybe change up the mug you drink your morning coffee from or watch a new movie every night).

Doing Your Own Thing

Finally, I want to throw the most important thing out there: making a summer vision board that works for YOUR life! Remember, not everyone lives an Instagram-worthy life every day, and not every moment is going to consist of frolicking on a beach, so it’s important to give yourself grace. Not every summer is plot-based, sometimes you have to have a character development summer.

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