Have some fun, but be productive

By Ulises Araiza ’11
The Roundup

Attention all students: Summer vacation is not too far away.

The days of seemingly endless school days and countless hours of homework are soon to be over—at least for a short time.

If you are taking summer school, then you may face homework filled afternoons but definitely not like those of the regular school year. With one or maybe two classes, there will still be free time in the summer and after summer school there is still a month of school-less-ness.

So what should you do with all this free time?

Make the best of it.

Be productive and have fun.

Whether you go half-way across the world, to San Diego, the high country or stay in your own backyard, have fun.

Let your hair down, wear your favorite t-shirt and flip-flops— but don’t forget to challenge yourself.

Freshman—enjoy your first Brophy summer. Reflect on how this last year has changed you as a person and how you will continue to grow in life.

Sophomores—use this summer to prepare for what is notoriously the hardest year of school, junior year.

Well, really there is not true way to prepare yourselves, but just know that this is a year of SAT’s and ACT’s, counselor meetings and only the beginning of a long college process.

Juniors—you are now the new seniors. This summer will be the transition period into the new position of leadership, and after three years in the line of succession, it is time for the class of 2011 to step up and take charge.

And finally, seniors—this summer we say farewell to the class of 2010 as you go off on your endeavors. This summer may be the most exciting and exhilarating of all your lives as you leave behind this institution and head off to college—whether you go down the street to ASU or half way across the world to Timbuktu.

Don’t use the summer to stress out about petty, nonsensical things like you might do during the school year.

Take life day by day, not worrying about the past or the unforeseen future. Simply put, live in the present.

But don’t forget about others and help your brothers in need.

So listen to the words of Assistant Principal for Curriculum and Instruction Mr. Seamus Walsh: “At the end of summer, if I ask a student what he did during the summer and the answer is ‘I don’t know,’ I’d say that’s a failure.”

In other words, be productive.

Be open to new experience, challenge your mind and help out those in need.