Finals are drawing to a close and the anticipation of summer has multiplied by the number of times you searched an exam question on Quizlet, which I can assume to be quite high. Amidst spontaneous adventures in hopes of having one last hoorah with friends, conversations regarding plans and goals frequent the air. It’s a special time really, seeing the excitement in a classmate’s eyes as he or she revels in the unknown that the summer months can bring. This mystery is what feeds our elation; the idea that no matter one’s preparation, certainty is limited as to what is bound to happen.

To look back on past summers while in college is to look back on seasons of challenge and growth. Whether one has a full-time internship, or maybe the opportunity to travel, I would encourage all college students to use this time outside the classroom to explore the freedom from tests and books to see where your passion lies. This being said, with said exploration you run the risk of realizing that what you’ve been studying has no correlation with what you really want to do with your life. However, let's not limit ourselves to think that we are not capable of succeeding far beyond the degree being earned, and let us not undervalue the summer months in which we can discover ourselves without the restrictions of grades and/or exams.

The mystery of summer is a peculiar thing; internships develop into post-graduate jobs, those craving wanderlust feed their desire, further education is achieved, the list of potential happenings is endless. Yes, having a plan for summer is completely normal; and truth be told, having no plan at all is more common than you think. Whatever your preparation may have been for said months, allow your summer to mold you, to shape you, and to completely shatter the boundaries that have placed upon your life’s ambitions. Here's to summer 2016, and all the possibilities it has to offer!