Summer brings a welcome break

A common quip among students is that their favorite day of school is the last day. Such a statement might seem to go against the attitude that pep rallies and spirit weeks are based on, but the celebrating that comes with summer is more related to the end of homework and excessive mental exertion than leaving behind the campus.

The most difficult aspect of graduation is likely the goodbyes made to friends that, for once, won't change to reunions in the fall. Wheatland Union High School seniors, now legitimate adults, must say farewell to being a Pirate and go start their new life elsewhere.

And yet, while there is a sad side to the year ending, it is often overshadowed by joy at thought of the long months that lie ahead without a single grade to be given.

For those of us in high school, summer vacation has become less of a novelty and more of a tradition. Unlike some yearly events, such as holidays, that lose part of their magic with age, the seasonal break has transformed into a thing more treasured with each increase in grade level.

This probably has to do with the fact that the older we get, the less opportunities there are for the kind of lounging around associated with these lazy months. Unfortunately, responsibility doesn't simply end with finals. WUHS students are discovering the benefits of a summer job to fund their sudden freedom. What used to be a time for relaxation and recharging is now a chance for an induction into the working world — a milestone more significant than one might bother to consider.

Another great thing about finally having hours to fill is that they can be used for an activity that isn't only useful, but also fun. There are certain non-negotiable factors, such as required classes, that go along with school, but summer offers fewer restrictions. Students can pursue a hobby they were once too busy for: volunteer at a local organization or — as daunting as it may sound — take a class that interests them.

For those in the lower grades still looking to pad their college applications, now is a perfect time for them to check a few items off their list. Teenagers might not always admit it, but there does come a point where leisure can turn to boredom if there is nothing to do all day.

Of course, it's students' prerogative to do nothing if they want to. That's what this season is for, isn't it? There's nothing wrong with wanting to enjoy it before it's gone — and sometimes, you just can't be bothered to make yourself busy. After all the studying, the stressing and the preparing, such a break is well deserved. So have a good summer, WUHS students. In fact, just have fun not being students for a little while.

Meghan Lasswell is a junior at Wheatland Union High School. This is her final column for the Education section.