Between classes, clubs, jobs and other responsibilities, it’s difficult for students to rest and enjoy their hobbies as much as they would like to. Fortunately, the end of the school year is almost here, and once the victory flag is waved after finals week, students will be free to spend their time however they want. This is how The Current Staff will spend their newfound free time this summer.
Li Cohen, co-editor-in-chief, said music festivals
Summertime is the best time to pack up some bags, grab a few friends and travel around the country to see some of your favorite music artists. I try to go to concerts and music festivals as much as possible, and, even though summer isn’t exactly a responsibility-free time, it’s still the greatest opportunity of the year to take a vacation for a week or two and have some fun. This year, my friends and I are going to Alabama for a week to see all the incredible artists at Hangout Fest, and I absolutely cannot wait to share in this experience with my closest friends.
Nicole Cocuy, co-editor-in-chief, said travel
While most people like to take a well-deserved and much-needed break by transporting themselves to another world through film or television, I like to unwind by travelling to another part of the world. Over the past 10 years, I have spent my summers exploring different states and countries with my family, friends and even by myself. My first trip was to New York when I was about 12, but since then, I’ve experienced things I never thought I would. I’ve hiked up a volcano in Hawaii, taken classes at Yale, gotten horrifically lost in the streets of Barcelona, made a wish on the Trevi Fountain, embraced the hustle-and-bustle of Washington, D.C., as an intern, eaten crepes made by a street vendor in Paris, driven up California’s Pacific Coast Highway, kayaked through caverns on the coast of Portugal, ridden a horse through the Sierra Nevada Mountains, soaked up the sun with family members on various beaches throughout Dominican Republic, ridden a camel in Morocco, and so much more. My most recent adventure was a summer study abroad experience in Granada through AIFS, which was insane because I spent most of my summer away from my family and hometown friends in a different country, but ever since I returned home, my wanderlust has been incredibly severe. This summer, I will explore various cities in Japan, and I can’t wait to get on that plane and say “Sayonara” to the U.S. for a couple weeks.
Roddia Paul, opinion editor, said sleep more
This is probably going to sound super lazy, but just hear me out. Throughout the fall and winter semester, I find it really hard to get sufficient amounts of sleep. Between classes, work, and campus involvement, sleep unfortunately tends to fall last on my priority list. So, when summer is approaching, I avidly anticipate the flexibility of my schedule. Although I usually have a summer job, taking a break from courses always gives me more freedom. I go to bed early and even get to sleep in. I find that when I am well rested, I have more energy for daily activities, and I am even happier. If there is anything that summer does for me, it’s give me the rest I need.
Chantel Grant, features editor, said chilling in the West Indies
Florida is incredibly beautiful, but when summer comes around, I look forward to heading back to Jamaica. Going home is relaxing because I get to see my childhood friends, and we usually plan trips around the island. We usually drive to each other’s beach houses, which are located at isolated areas in Jamaica so we have privacy and get to meet cool local people. The best part of it all is the authentic road-side food and being comfortable at home. I’m truly relaxed and I encourage everyone to take a trip to Jamaica and chill in the West Indies.
Erin Herbert, sports editor, said painting
During the semester, I can never find any time to paint, and tubes of acrylic paint and canvases sit in my closet gathering dust. But summer is a different story. I go through paint and brushes faster than I’d like to admit during the summer, but there’s honestly no better way to relax than sitting on the porch with a paint brush in hand. I’ll definitely have my hands full this summer, as I plan to spend a majority of my time custom-painting a set of Adirondack chairs for my parents’ tiki bar.
Grace Ducanis, news editor, said pre-de-stressing
In the past, my summers haven’t been very relaxing. My first summer in college, I volunteered in Miami every day, and I worked every day during my second summer in college. This summer, I plan to hang out with friends and family, host parties, start a book club, write things that aren’t class essays, blog, teach piano and take a few weekend trips. Before the stress of senior year and then finding a job becomes even more imminent, I want to take some concentrated time off to do things I enjoy before it becomes even more difficult to do so.
