When walking around the halls in May, there is only one thing on everyone’s mind: summer break. Yet, every teenager knows that summer comes with its own host of problems.
Indiana is no New York City or Chicago, which have constant concerts, experiences and adventures in which teenagers can partake. However, this does not mean students can’t have a fun time in Indiana. Plenty of teenagers have a great summer despite location issues. Students like junior Megan Walsh are making the most of their summer.
“Just go outside and hang out with your friends,” Walsh said. “That’s the easiest way to have fun in Indiana. And although we don’t live by an ocean or anything like that, you can still go to some water parks, go to pools, neighborhood pools or anything.”
If you have no fun summer plans, a good place to start is getting a job. Having income can open up a variety of new opportunities and even be fun in its own way.
“Working is fun in general, because I’m a lifeguard, and I don’t have to deal with that much stress, sometimes, but usually, they’re really flexible with my schedule,” Walsh said.
That extra source of income can help students have fun or try new experiences. For example, lots of students choose to spend their money at concerts.
“Most of it [summer] consists of doing concerts,” senior Milford Harber said. “I go to a lot of metal concerts. It’s my first year going to a festival.”
If concerts aren’t someone’s thing, or if they want something more economical, students can spend their time outside.
“Eagle Creek is probably my favorite,” English teacher Taylor Budzikowski said. “There’s a park called Virginia Fairbanks that’s outside of the Newfields art museum that’s free. There’s just so many free places to go and just be outside, whether you like to fish or go on walks or just picnic.”
No matter a student’s preferred activity, summer is the perfect time to go on adventures and try new things. Sometimes just being with friends and having extra free time is what defines a good summer.
“I feel like I try to do simple things like that when I’m an adult, because I just like to get to know my neighbors and to invite people to hang out when they don’t have anything going on,” Budzikowski said. “So nothing too crazy, but just like little ways to see people.”
