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The summer is an ideal time to do all of those things that you
may have wanted to do during the school, but just didn’t have
the time, energy, and/or motivation.
No more excuses
Now that you have that extra time, it is a perfect opportunity
to accomplish some personal goals. Let’s start there. I like
to start my summer by thinking about what I want to accomplish,
in other words I set goals. By setting goals, you will avoid
the young person’s number one enemy—laziness.
I’m not saying you are lazy, but the truth is when you find
yourself with so much extra free time and nothing to do to
occupy that time the end result is often that you will do
nothing. Young people in the United States spend an average of
twenty hours a week being inactive,…so you need a good summer
game plan.
Stop making excuses and get busy. Write down five to ten things
you want to accomplish and set out to achieve them. Here are
some areas I suggest you use for setting your goals:
fitness/exercise, money, travel, organization, volunteer, and
academic.
Fitness/exercise
I
love the summer because it allows me the time to do one of my
favorite things…run. I use to play a lot of basketball
in the summer, but after three knee injuries and surgeries I
have decided that the best thing (and safest) is for me to run
in a straight line. Running and walking are great exercises
because you can do them anywhere and they don’t cost you
anything but a lot of sweat and energy. In addition, the
benefits are tremendous. You can get in shape, build stamina and
energy, and it is great for your heart and lungs. Just remember
to stay hydrated and don’t push yourself too hard; start slow
and build yourself up.
If you are not a runner or walker, then there are number of
sports leagues that operate during the summer; contact your
local recreation department to find out what is available. You
can also do something at home like yoga or an aerobic routine.
Go to a local video store or library and you can often borrow
exercise videos for free.
Money
If you were not able to get a job this summer then you can
become self-employed. You can do things like babysit, mow
lawns, wash cars, or just do odd jobs. The idea is not becoming
a millionaire though that would be nice; rather, you should just
aim to get a little spending money to do things that you really
want to do. It is a good idea to develop a plan to determine
how much you want to make.
Advertise your services by canvassing your neighborhood and
making people aware of what you are available to do. It is also
a great idea to make a flyer if you have the money and
resources. Remember, the economy is tough so this summer may be
a little tougher to earn what you might have wanted to.
Travel
Unless you drive, this one may be a bit tough, especially with
the high gas prices, but if you have the opportunity to travel
then do it. Traveling is one of my passions and you can learn so
much simply by being in a new environment. In a worst-case
scenario, you can hop on your bike and go to local metro parks.
Check your local phone book for a list and location of parks
near you.
Organization
I
am sure you have heard the phrase spring cleaning—well, think
summer cleaning. I am sure that many of you are well organized
and have clean rooms but I know that some of you are, well,…cochinos.
No offense but I have seen some teens’ rooms and it can be
scary. You will be amazed how much more efficiently you can
operate when you are organized. Think about it—no more digging
through dirty calcetines y chones to find your favorite
shirt. Not only will you feel better and operate more
efficiently, but you will also make tus padres very
happy.
Volunteer
In the past, I dedicated an entire article to the joys,
importance, and benefits of volunteerism. The summer is
the perfect time to make it happen. You can go to your local
Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, hospital, or any other local church,
or neighborhood center, to inquire about opportunities to
volunteer. Don’t forget that you can also help those around
you. Spend some quality time with your hermanitos, help
out your abuelos, or un viejito en tu barrio.
Just do something. The world would be better place if we all
just did a little to help one another out.
Academic
Relax, calmate, tranquilo, I know it’s the summer
and the last thing you want to think about is school. I am
simply suggesting that you read a book or two, prepare for the
ACT or SAT or maybe write. The thing I am advising against is
letting your mind be dormant for the entire summer.
Cuidado
The last thing I want to address is the fact that summers can be
very dangerous. Statistics show that crime rates rise in the
summer. So be aware of your surroundings and avoid situations
that may pose a problem for you. I know that you want to have
fun and you should, just make sure it isn’t the type of fun that
is going get you in trouble with the law. I have confidence
that you will utilize good common sense to ensure that your
summer is a great one. ¡Hasta la próxima vez!
I
would love to hear from you about my column please send me
feedback or let me know if there is something you would like me
to write about. You can e-mail me at
laprensa5@yahoo.com. ¡Gracias por tu apoyo!
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