I struggled to get up under Macau’s sweltering summer heat as words of encouragement echoed in the background. I was covered head to toe in sweat, while small cuts and a bruise were beginning to form on my right leg. I had fallen. I had fallen again and I was tired. But none of that mattered because I was determined.
When I finally mustered the strength and courage, I got up for one last attempt. “If I get this right, it’ll finally be a good afternoon” I said to myself. “If not, I guess I’ll just go home”.
I hopped on the bicycle that my uncle had been teaching me to ride once more, my fourth-grade self preparing for take-off. I took a breath and pedalled. The bike seemed to have a mind of its own, being like a bull that was preparing to throw me off of its back. But I wouldn’t let that happen. I took control and finally, I was doing it. I was riding a bike! And throughout that summer vacation, I would pedal until my legs felt like jelly.
That was the summer I had spent learning to ride a bike, which made me realise that spending a summer holiday learning something is among the best ways to make use of a students’ much anticipated free time.
Sleeping in, playing video games or watching shows and movies all night are what many may look forward to doing the most and although I also still did those things as a student, at some point I found that those activities can only keep someone entertained for so long. When you take up learning a new skill, whatever it may be, that particular activity or set of activities may be able to hold your interest for much longer, especially if there is a challenge and a sense of progression involved, as well as a rewarding end goal to work towards.
Whether it is learning how to play the guitar, paint, rock climb or even pick up a new language, it will keep someone occupied while also benefiting them in the long run. Although mastery may not be achievable over one summer, the skill, hobby and activity that one chooses to take up will more likely keep one’s interest much longer, perhaps even enough to continue pursuing something with the goal of mastery through many more summers ahead.
Meanwhile, learning a new skill helps one face another academic year with a refreshed mind along with feelings of accomplishment, especially when compared to just stepping into a classroom after doing something like spending the summer playing video games or binging on shows day and night. From my experience, spending a summer learning something would make it easier not only reintegrate myself to a classroom, but to take in the different things that my classmates and I were being taught a lot better.
A summer vacation is something that many students look forward to after a long and stressful academic year. Although it is not wrong to relax and indulge in various forms of entertainment, learning a new skill is a great way to make use of the time you have, particularly as it can be fun and engaging, while also leaving one with a refreshed mind and a sense of accomplishment ahead of a new academic year. Aside from the benefits that learning something may present, one might find that a summer spent learning may even make for a much more memorable holiday.
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