By Patricia Lapena
I’ve finished my last exam, am greeted by a digital blast of confetti from my final Canvas submission, and I rejoice at the sight of a nearly empty Google Calendar. At least, in terms of looming deadlines, Zoom meetings, and the like. My semester is officially over. I’m a little burned out and perhaps dehydrated, but relieved. Now what?
I perceive the summer season as a new beginning: an opportunity for new hobbies, new experiences, and to meet new people. In theory, this is the ideal summer mindset.
Unfortunately, I’m burdened by a self-inflicted pressure to become a drastically new person by next semester. I find myself crafting an unreasonable bucket list for my four month break, not to say that dreaming big is wrong: the problem lies in how I treat myself when I don’t reach my goals.
Maybe I didn’t get that job I wanted, or practice driving like I’d promised. Whatever it is, I feel awful. It doesn’t help viewing my friend’s social media to see them touring Europe or celebrating their new summer internship. Of course, I’m happy for them, but this is often accompanied by an underlying envy that their summer is going infinitely better than mine.
“Comparison is the theft of joy”: a motto I’ve learned to live by. I’ve spent plenty of summers focusing on other people’s victories, ultimately neglecting to celebrate my own. The true value of summer is found within doing what you want, rather than viewing your own life as a competition with others. It is possible to strive toward your goals without feeling burdened by others’ successes. Your accomplishments, efforts, and experiences are valid in their own right. This is true all year round.
Moral of the story: your summer is your own. Don’t place too much pressure on yourself to have your entire life figured out by the end of it. Relax, enjoy the sun, and make progress at your own pace.
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