The Summer Clock
That time of the year where students can finally rest and recharge, guilt-free. You can indulge without consequence. But summer is a double-edged sword.
I don’t care what people get up to during the summer — as long as they don’t complain at the end of it, regretting what they didn’t do.
The sun has shone longer than four hours in a day for a consecutive number of days.
Officially, I proclaim it is now summer.
Do you have that summer body?
Do you have that dream internship?
Do you have a great summer planned?
Probably not.
I’m generalising but for good reason.
There is a timer when it comes to summer.
An expectation to progress past academic performance.
Develop personally or professional and return in September — a better person.
‘What did you do with your summer?’
That’s the age-old question which haunts the youth, year-in and year-out.
For most of us, we have a highlight. Something we talk about for long enough to bore the questioner, so they gloss over the rest of the months.
University students have long summers, all the more expectation.
I don’t care what people get up to during the summer — as long as they don’t complain at the end of it, regretting what they didn’t do.
I’m happy to support any personal projects that I connect with and be an advocate for entrepreneurship, charity and social work.
But, I hate when people say that I wish I had done more with my summer.
I’m a man with a plan. Without a plan, I may as well not get out of bed in the morning.
I like routine, structured by a university or by myself, but during summer I make sure I have my priorities in order.
I am fortunate that I worked my past two summers, so there was always a purpose.
It was not a job I wanted to do my whole life, and that’s where my regret lies. I regret that I didn’t use my time more effectively, but I earned money and saved.
If you’re out there with no plan, but you’re used to having one or feel anxious about having an empty summer — take comfort in knowing that unstructured time is one for opportunity and discover.
If you have the means, travel. Explore the world.
If not, discover yourself. Focus on the tasks that you could ‘never’ do before.
Spend the summer indoors but fulfilled.
Our response to an abstract question should not quantify our summer.
Our summer is only quantifiable by our emotions.
Our experiences and our ambitions.
The summer clock has started to tick. It will chime every month.
Be grateful for your position; this time is free — discover yourself before you’re stuck wondering where your youth went.
I think about that with my golf and all I could have achieved if I had taken it more seriously.
Now, I don’t stop working hard. For someone or myself.
It’s because, at the end of the day, these summer moments will not define us.
They will act as a reminder of our youth and free time.
I want to reminisce with a smile and with gratitude.
Not with a slim smile and a heart full of wonder.
The decision is yours.
The summer clock.