How to Have a Cosme Summer

By: Cosme Lozano Staff Writer

With another school year almost in our rearview mirror, we can start looking ahead to the summer season! Summer is always a special time, and if you’re like me, you feel at your best during the warm months. The possibilities seem endless, with more businesses getting back to normal as we continue to fight COVID-19. Additionally, the summer is a good time to catch up on hobbies or to try new ones.

For me, I am really interested in learning to fish. Last summer, I learned how to fly-fish in one of my classes, and it definitely got me curious about fishing as a whole. I think it’s time I fully learn one of the most popular pastimes in the world. In addition to fishing, I also want to re-spark my passion for photography. During the lockdown, going out and taking photos was one of my favorite things to do. To this day, I still have very fond memories of being alone in nature and enjoying the silence of the lockdown. While the situation we were in was terrible, this was a hobby that did some genuine good for me.

While we can pursue hobbies and have more fun in the summer, that does not mean it is void of work. The summer presents a great opportunity for people to get new jobs or to do seasonal work. These can be labor jobs or even something like being a lifeguard at a beach or pool. For me, I will be taking on a completely new job. This summer I will be a videographer for the Autobahn here in Joliet. It’s a job that I have not really done before, on a professional level, so I am very excited. The work I will be doing is similar to controlling a TV broadcast for something like NASCAR or Formula 1. What also makes the job interesting is all the race cars and exotics.

Talking about summer, one cannot forget the time it gives you to catch up and hang out with friends. As I am wrapping up my time in college, it has definitely gotten harder to stay in touch with friends. Everyone has their own lives and their own dreams that they are chasing. Despite this, it is important to still make time for the ones that are closest to us. One of my favorite things to do with my friends in the summer is to go to Andy’s and get some frozen custard. We just hang out in the parking lot listening to music while joking and talking. It’s pretty casual, but that has been something my friend group has always done, even going back to high school. Enjoying the nightlife with friends, if you are of age, can also be an amazing time. Personally speaking, I can do anything with anyone. What matters most to me is spending time with the ones I love and strengthening those relationships.

I feel it is important to mention that it is ok to do nothing during the summer. Whether you dislike the heat, don’t want to do anything physical or you’re just trying to relax, all of that is ok. I feel there is a societal pressure to be active and constantly on the go during the summer. While I do enjoy being active, I will not deny the value and love I have for doing nothing during the summer. The summer, for me, is a time to recharge my batteries and get right. Some of my fondest memories during the summer involve me sitting outside and enjoying nature and her wildlife. Going for walks along trails or creek beds are some of my favorite things to do. Being alone in nature is invaluable because it gives you time to go back to your roots and to reflect on what's important for you.

With summer just around the corner, excitement cannot be contained. Whether you are wanting to try a new hobby, hanging out with friends, hard at work or just wanting some alone time, the summer is the best time to pursue these things. Whatever you want to do, now is the best time to start getting the ball rolling. If it’s staying inside or going outside, the summer provides a relaxing atmosphere for people to pursue what they want. In the words of one of my favorite songs by Roy Ayers Ubiquity, “My life, my life, my life, my life in the sunshine. Everybody loves the sunshine.”