Follow through on goals you set

During finals week, I remember turning to a friend and saying, “I hope summer is boring — just me working and hanging out with family.” At the time, that sounded like the ideal break after a stressful semester. I think I jinxed myself.

This summer has been anything but boring. It’s brought unexpected situations and tough decisions, some of which I never anticipated having to face. There have been moments of frustration, doubt and stress. But I quickly realized that dragging anger or anxiety into each situation only made things harder. So instead, I’ve made the decision to look at every challenge as an opportunity — to learn, to grow and to prepare myself for whatever lies ahead.

That’s the thing about college: just because you’re home for the summer doesn’t mean you’re done growing. The work of becoming an adult doesn’t take a break. Whether you’re working to pay for tuition, gaining job experience or figuring out things like insurance and car maintenance (even when you’d rather not), every step is part of preparing for the future.

This summer, I’m working in an office by myself for most of the day. At first, I felt like I wasn’t really “getting experience” the way I expected to. But then I realized — I am gaining something valuable. I’m learning how to manage my time without supervision. I’m building connections and showing this team what kind of employee I can be. I’m earning their trust and their praise, which could turn into a strong reference or even a future opportunity.

Even jobs that don’t seem related to your goals can still teach you something. Maybe you’re working fast food and wondering what flipping burgers has to do with your future. Well, maybe it’s teaching you how to stay calm under pressure, how to interact with difficult customers or how to work with a team. Maybe it’s showing you how to speak up for yourself. All of those things matter — and all of them are part of growing up.

There are also more structured ways to prepare for your future. Internships and job shadowing can give you a closer look at the fields you’re interested in. Sometimes, all it takes is a day spent watching someone else do their job to spark a new interest or confirm that a path isn’t for you. And preparation doesn’t always have to be career-related. Watching a documentary, reading a book, learning a new skill — anything that helps you grow as a person is time well spent.

This summer, my personal motto is “show up for yourself.” That means following through on the goals you set, even if no one else is holding you accountable. It means putting in the work now, not just for today, but for the person you’re becoming.

You might not always see the results right away. Maybe what you’re doing doesn’t seem useful in your career, and maybe it won’t solve every problem at home either. But you’re still learning. You’re still growing. And one day, you’ll be grateful that you took the time to show up — not just for work or for school, but for yourself.