So… is it really summer break if I’m still turning in essays and prepping for online classes? Technically, no. But mentally? Emotionally? Spiritually? I’m calling it a break anyway. Because honestly, I’m tired — and even if it’s just a few days of breathing room, I’m going to treat it like the summer I deserve.
The Final Stretch — One More Essay to Go
Right now, I’m finishing up my last assignment of the semester — an essay due June 18. Once I hit “submit,” I’ll officially be done with this round of classes.
It’s wild how that deadline feels both so close and also so far away. I’m pushing through the end-of-semester fog with caffeine, music, and the promise that after this one final hurdle, I get a few days to actually breathe.
Because… yeah. On June 23, I start my online summer session and that runs until August. No real break. Just a breather. But I’ll take it.
No Real Break… Just a Breather
It’s only about five days between classes, but I’m going to protect that time like my life depends on it.
I know it’s not a full summer off, but even just having some flexibility makes a difference. I’ve been on go-mode for months, and even a few slow mornings or chill afternoons will help reset my brain.
Morning Shifts = Afternoon Freedom
One thing that is helping: my work schedule shifted, and now I’m working in the mornings. That change has been lowkey life-changing.
Having my afternoons open means I’m not rushing from one thing to another, and I finally have space to rest, study, or just exist without always watching the clock.
It’s also opened up time for something I’ve been saying for two years now…
The Beach Dream (Third Time’s the Charm?)
Every summer I say I’m going to the beach. Every summer, it somehow never happens. But this year? I’ve got mornings free, my afternoons aren’t slammed, and I’m making it happen.
Even if it’s just a quick trip, I need sand, waves, and that salty air in my life.
I don’t need a whole vacation — I just need a few hours where I can sit in the sun and feel like I’m not behind on 50 things. This beach day is more than a plan. It’s a mission.
Redefining “Break” as a Tired College Student
If you’re in community college or taking classes year-round, you already know: traditional summer break isn’t always a thing. But that doesn’t mean you can’t rest. It just looks different.
Rest might mean sleeping in on a random Tuesday, sipping an iced coffee in silence, or watching a comfort show without feeling guilty. It’s not about doing nothing — it’s about doing what fills you. That’s what I’m leaning into this summer.
My Summer 2025 Mini Bucket List
This isn’t the summer of big trips or wild schedules. It’s the summer of balance — between work, school, and moments that feel good. Here’s what I’m hoping to do:
- ✅ Submit that final essay by June 18 (then exhale deeply)
- ✅ Hit the beach (finally!) — this is the year I follow through
- ✅ Chill after work without guilt — slow afternoons are underrated
- ✅ Do my Paint & Sip night — I’ve been meaning to do one for ages
- ✅ Spend time with my niece — she’s taking a summer math placement class, and if she does well, she’ll start middle school in 7th grade math! So proud and excited for her
- ✅ Visit my parents in July — can’t wait for some family time and that familiar comfort. Plus my dad agreed to take me to the new Superman movie!!!!!
- ✅ Start summer classes feeling a bit more refreshed — because we’re still grinding, but we’re pacing ourselves now
A Break on My Terms
No, this isn’t the kind of break where I toss my backpack in the corner and not look at a syllabus for three months. My summer session goes through August 8th, and then I’m right back at it when fall semester starts on August 26, 2025. But it is a break in the ways that count: I’m slowing down where I can. I’m creating time for the things I’ve put off. I’m prioritizing peace, even in small doses.
So yes — I’m still in school, still working, still tired. But I’m also claiming summer, one beach day, one Paint & Sip, and one iced coffee at a time.
