5 Things To Do Before Summer Is Over

July has begun and, for the average college student, summer break is halfway through. It’s likely that most kids have nailed down a summer job for this hot and sweaty time of year, and I guarantee that a large number have also spent a good portion of the summer in front of a screen that says “Netflix.”

However, if you’re one of those kids who is either Netflix-ing all day, working all day, or some combination of both, you’re probably missing out on things you’ll long for when you return to school in August. Here are five things every college student should do before summer’s over.

1. Hang out with high school pals.

I know, I know. For many, the point of “going away” to college is to get away from the awful years that were supposed to be the best four of your life: high school. To be completely honest, though, there must have been someone you missed when you left. Whether it be your best friend from freshman year, or that quiet kid you sat with at lunch that one time, spending real time with real people will make being at home for four months a little more worth it.

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2. Spend time with family.

Admit it: you miss your parents every time you leave for school. It’s the first time your mom wasn’t a text away and your dad wasn’t at every dinner making really annoying, yet endearing, puns. Enjoy this time with them as much as you can, because come August, you’ll regret doing the opposite.

3. Grab a bite in town.

Every town or city has at least one Mom-and-Pop restaurant that you’ll never be able to find anywhere else, including college. Chances are, this place has unexpectedly great grub, and probably for a nice, low price — perfect for the broke college student. Yes, you’ll miss that home-cooked feel when you’re away, but at least there won’t be a “what-if.”

4. Have adventures.

No matter how boring or sleepy your town or city is, there are always things to do, people to meet, and places to see. Grab a friend, grab your camera, and go somewhere in town you’ve never been before. Maybe it’s a small shop on Main Street, or a place all the “cool kids” used to talk about. Go out and make it happen, because no good story ever started with, “This summer, I watched Netflix all day, every day.”

5. Stop complaining.

I get it. Being away from most, if not all, of your friends is awful, heart-wrenching, tear-jerking, unfair, lonely, terrible, etc. And you went to college partially to get away, and now you’re back home every summer. We all experience the pain, but when you look on the bright side, it’s not really all that bad. No classes, less pressure, more time with your family. Honestly, you don’t have much to complain about, so stop it. Enjoy the time you have, because that free time to relax will be gone before you know it. So go out, get some sun, have fun, and make some memories.