If you’re like most students, you have been waiting for summer for months. Some have been waiting since school began. Most students begin to feel burnt out, tired, and lose motivation toward the end of the school year. They watch the clock tick until the period’s over, until the day’s over, until the month has passed, and then till summer has finally begun. It’s been a long year, but we’re only a month away from summer and most of us have already entered the summer mindset. But what exactly is the “summer mindset”?

The meaning of summer differs for each student. For some, summer is a much needed break from tests, homework, stress, and pressure from school. It is a time to sunbathe, take trips to the beach with friends, and sleep in. Some adore the summer sun and the freedom it brings. With less responsibility, and less obligation. It is a time to travel and laugh and finally feel relief. 

Other people enjoy school. It provides an escape from their lives at home. Also, school is something to do, better than being bored at home. This might be an unpopular opinion, but it is the opinion of many students. 

As a freshman, most don’t feel the burnt out effects of school as well as juniors or seniors. Summer isn’t a much needed break, it’s just a break that they want. As a junior, summer break is a much needed break from APs, homework, and exams. It is filled with excitement and anticipation of senior year and applications for college. Emma Reiss (11) is “excited for her senior year and [she] hope[s] that it’s going to be easier than junior year.”

Senior year is different. Some feel overblown excitement of going off to college, meeting new people, living in a new place, and experiencing new things. It can also be really scary, which is why others experience nervousness and dreadful anticipation over the summer of senior year to college. Or maybe a senior takes a year off, or doesn’t go to college at all (which is totally alright by the way). For a senior, the summer sometimes brings fear of taking the next step into a more independent life. 

Summer brings mixed feelings for each person, but overall brings new experiences and fun times. Whether you stay home or travel the world during summer vacation, I wish you unforgettable memories and a very fun summer!