Inti Navia 
In the wise words of “Phineas and Ferb,” the annual problem for our generation is finding a good way to spend it. Fore most of us, these next weeks of warm weather mean relaxing, working, and vacationing, but no matter what you do, you should strive to make it a summer worth remembering.
As a writer myself, I’ve been making strides to meet some personal goals this summer. These include meeting weekly page count goals, submitting to literary magazines, and more. Not every teen is interested in writing, obviously, so here are five broader summer goals to help you strengthen whatever your passion is.
One: Sharpen your skills. Whether that be writing, or practicing drawing, keep going at the skills and hobbies you love. Don’t let yourself get rusty at them!
Two: Explore new opportunities. You never know what internships, programs, and other special tools might be waiting for you out there. If you have a hobby or interest you’re passionate about, take steps toward pursuing it!
Three: Set goals. Nothing too crazy. These goals should be manageable. You’re not in school anymore, so don’t feel the need to push yourself to the point where you feel burned out or exhausted. Set simple, daily or weekly goals to further getting good at your skill, or to help you pursue a future where you can use that skill in your career.
Four: Write it down. Once you have established what your goals are, write them down. Place your goals list somewhere where you will be able to see it every day. Place the list in your journal or literally stick the list up on the wall. Remember to break your list down into small steps. Scratching each item off is a great way to see your progress toward the bigger goal.
Five: Research. Find out the parts you didn’t know about your skill! There’s always something new to learn, and it doesn’t sound like boring old research when it’s about the thing that you love.
Six: Relax! I said it before and I’ll say it again. Don’t stress yourself out this summer. Maybe you don’t meet all your goals. Maybe you feel like you’re not doing enough. It’s okay! What matters most is that you have fun, and get all the rest you need. School always hits like a truck, and you deserve all the time in the world to recuperate from it.
What are you doing this summer? Would you add anything to this list? Let me know!
By Inti Navia, Freshman, Columbia College Chicago
All Platforms: @intinavia
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