It's summer, so we know what that means: we race to the beach, we plan elaborate getaways, forget school and work, and make the best of those sunny three months before it's back to the Old Grind.

In short, we make those weeks last, like the whole year builds up to it, just for a little breath of fresh air and relaxation.

It's great, and I'm seriously looking forward to the many adventures I'll be going on, whether they be to South Africa or Philadelphia, the beach or the gym, where I go I intend will better myself all the while.

As the second semester of my sophomore year, halfway through my undergraduate career, comes to a close, I self-reflect.

What have I accomplished, where have I failed, and what can I look forward to in the coming times?

The way I see it, learn from your mistakes, and they are lessons.

Life's full of them, and walking into summer I've looked back on three ways I know I can move forward.

1. Detoxify social circles.

So often we find ourselves in impossibly tense situations where people place us in an uncomfortable state, and we may think ourselves powerless to do anything about it.

Now, of course, I'm not saying we back-sass our bosses or snark off to co-workers, but we can detoxify our social circles of people no good for us.

We can all think of at least that one person who's nothing but trouble, or drama, or general negative vibes bringing you and/or your friend group down.

These people often tear down the positive mood of an environment and cause dissent, conflict, and hurt feelings within a group dynamic.

While school and the hum-drum of everyday run-of-the-mill life gets us in a system, summer allows for reflection. Take time to realize that you are worth more than the headache someone else is giving you, and keep in mind: misery loves company.

You offering yourself up?

2. Educate yourself.

Read a book, search online, or take up a new and interesting hobby.

The world's overwhelming populated with new and innovating concepts, so take a stab(not literally) at one, and enjoy yourself an aspect of life previously foreign to you.

Maybe it's skydiving, or roller-blading, or collecting stamps. If it holds your attention, take this time to dedicate yourself to a craft you actually enjoy.

When you spend the majority of your life working a job, or going to school, doing things you might not necessarily find exactly "fun" one hundred percent of the time, why not inject some variety in there?

Why not do that one thing that makes you happy in life?

3. Debate ideas, not people.

This might come as a surprise to you, but people LOVE to talk about other people. I mean, a lot.

The fact is, gossip is far more common in social circles than not, and talking about others not only limits the advances a conversation can make, but takes up valuable time you have about things that honestly don't matter.

Who cares what Susie Lou did last weekend, or how much beer Brad chugged last night? Every day, new sis made about exciting ventures and steps forward in society, and there are of far greater impact to discuss at length.

Why hotly debate drunken affairs when you can discuss, for example, a new idea you might have? Or, how this new internship opportunity can really help you?

Again, these aren't going to fit like a glove for everyone, but you get my point: Why talk about other people, more than a little rude, when you talk about art, or ideas, or the future?

Still, it's summer, so don't go thinking too hard about any of this; it's all more than a little tongue-in-cheek.

I'll admit, I've found myself in toxic circles, lacking the proper education, and talking about others when, in reality, I should have been talking about myself, and what I could've done better in that time.

As mentioned before, though, mistakes learned from are lessons, and the learned man(or woman) is one who is always learning, therefore always making mistakes, and attempting to learn from every one of them.