Summer Break...But not!

The older we get, the more we do. Recess used to be a vital part of everyday life, but now, it’s like it doesn’t exist. However, the one thing I can’t afford to change is my summer break. It’s the two-month period where I can recollect myself, go on vacation after vacation, and stay up for as long as I want.  I thought that this would always stay the same... Until now.  

Back to the weekly routine! It’s the end of an old week and the start of a new blog. Today, I want to talk about how things change as we get older. A few years ago, I would’ve spent my evenings running around the neighborhood with the other kids, screaming and playing, without a care. But now, I lock myself inside, trying to catch up on work or practicing my violin for an upcoming concert. Things are starting to get so much more complicated and stressful! Nothing’s made me notice that more than the summer.  

Usually, when I’m on break I wake up later, binge-watch every TV show on Netflix, read a book, and watch TV again until eleven at night. No more assignments, projects, and deadlines. Just relax. But during this summer, everything took a turn.  

What I thought would be a worry-free break, turned into a rush-to-finish-everything-as-fast-as-possible break. I have multiple prerequisites to finish and turn in by the first week of school! I think it would be okay since I still have a whole month to finish everything. But after looking at the assignments in detail, I have no idea where to start. The social studies assignment requires me to buy, read, and analyze a book about art, ancient art. I’m not good at regular, contemporary art to begin with. To add to that, I need to write a “small” essay about the art for the ELA portion. Math is a whole different nightmare since I don’t remember how to do anything, and I threw all my notes away. If you ask me, horror movies are nothing compared to this!  

Once I muster up whatever optimism I have left, I get to work. I admit that I have been collaborating with a few of my friends to get it done, but I like to say that I know what I’m doing. Plus, I need to get used to all this because this is all “sophomore year in a nutshell” after all.  Besides, I have another problem to tackle, which is summer volunteering. 

During the school year, I would volunteer as much as I could to earn points for the clubs I was in. I never worried too much, since opportunities would always be given to us. All we had to do was sign up! But this is the first time I’ve ever worried so much about summer enrichment programs and volunteering. Many people have told me that volunteering as much as I can at local summer programs could earn me points on my applications, so obviously, I had to try. What I didn’t realize was how difficult it was for a fifteen-year-old to find opportunities that were worthwhile (no offense...). Either the programs need an application and the deadline’s over, or I’m not old enough to participate. It’s almost as if people think that fifteen-year-olds are too young and can’t handle the pressure of sitting at a desk and doing paperwork. It’s not laborious if we agree to do the work! We may be a little immature, but we can still get the job done. 

After a few weeks into the summer, I realized that there was no point in looking for things that weren’t there (to my knowledge). So, if opportunity doesn’t come knocking at my door, then I’ll make a new door! It’s time to defy every paranoid brain cell that’s telling me otherwise and go out to start talking to people. I talked to librarians, doctors, vets, teachers, and many others about volunteering opportunities. Honestly, the only thing that gave me the confidence to go up and speak was the thought of never seeing them again after. I think I’ve got a problem. 

But it was a success! I now have three weeks' worth of volunteering at the doctor’s office and even helping with a few summer camps. Yes, it is going to be as busy as it sounds. Well, I guess two weeks’ worth, now that I just finished a week.

But it’s not as bad as I thought it would be. It might’ve been adrenaline, but I must’ve done a good job during my first week because I’ve been called back for another week! The question is... Do I accept? The answer is yes. As Stephen King once wrote: “... you can, you should, and if you’re brave enough to start, you will.” Can’t exactly fault that, can I? 

Putting all the stress aside though, this is my first summer as a high schooler. Things are getting more complicated, and the responsibilities are getting bigger (not to mention that I must face my fears every day for three more weeks). But that doesn’t mean that I’m not a kid anymore! I still go to the pool every week. My friends and I goof around often. It may not be exactly like how I’m used to, but it’s still summer break. I still need to relax and enjoy every minute of this time. I guess “relaxing” just looks different now. All I can do is move along with the change around me! 

What do You Think? 

A lot of tension, but I think it’s a good lesson. After all, there’s only so much we can do! Anyway, now that I’ve dumped my emotions and thoughts already, time for you to think about a few things yourself! 

• What’s something that gives you the creeps every time? Do you think you can do something to face it? 

• How’s your summer been? Any crazy changes between the past year and now? Good or bad? 

• If there’s one thing you wish would never change, what would it be? If it were to change, how could you cope with it?