Waste my Summer? No thanks!

So, school’s out and science even dictates that it is officially summer (a.k.a. Friday’s Summer Solstice). Now is the time to kick back and relax, of course. (With how hard you worked during the school year? You EARNED it!) But at the same time, don’t just laze the summer days away. I don’t know about you, but for me there are few better feelings then the feeling of accomplishment. With that in mind, I try to make a small list of goals I want to achieve by the end of the summer. They are always things I know I can do, and can accomplish in a fairly short amount of time. If I can stick to my list, then I know that my summer wasn’t a waste!

Setting goals for yourself also helps to keep your mind stimulated during the summer, which will make the transition into school easier for you in the fall. (I know, I know, you don’t even want to think about that right now, but hey, it’s the truth!) But write ‘em down post them on the wall, enlist a friend to do it with you…whatever it takes to get them done!

Here are some rules of thumb I usually use when making my goals:
1. Learn something new-What is something you have always wanted to do? Why don’t you try to teach it to yourself? Do research on the computer, check out books from your local library, see if your parents will allow you to take lessons. Whether you are learning how to use a computer program, play a musical instrument, do a new arts n’ craft, whatever! Maybe you’ll develop a new passion or skill that will come in handy later!

2. Do something physical-Get off your butt! Summer is the time for gorgeous weather, so get outside and do something. Make a pact with yourself to ride your bike, go roller blading or swim on a regular basis. You can even arrange a weekly game of wiffle ball or Manhunt with the other kids in your neighborhood. Staying healthy will make you happy!

3. Stimulate your brain-Create a just-for-fun reading list with books YOU want to read. Reading may not be your favorite thing to do, but I guarantee you, you can find a genre of books that interests you. Reading on a regular basis will definitely help you during school---it expands vocabulary, enables spelling, and all sorts of other awesome benefits.


Need to see an example of these tips in action? Here are MY goals for the summer.
1. Learn how to use Photoshop- Photoshop is a very handy tool that is used in a ton of places. I would love to learn how to edit my own pictures. Also, it will benefit my career. While I was researching careers for journalists, I read that it was good for prospective journalists to have skills in a variety of computer programs, including Photoshop. I found an awesome online instruction book, and I just spend time playing with the program and making practice images.
2. Work the gym into my weekly routine-I joined a gym, and want to work it into my schedule. I want to be healthier. I made myself a workout progress chart so I can keep track of the steps I take while getting healthier. I really just want to be able to run without getting terribly winded, and improve my upper body strength. So far, I’ve been working on my pacing on a treadmill, and I have been doing arm lifts with free weights.
3. Get through my book list-I love summer because I finally get a chance to read for pleasure without having tons of other things to do or study for. I made a list of books that I want to read for the summer, and hope to read through it by the end of the summer.


Of course it’s okay to relax and enjoy yourself this summer…but keep busy, and, as always, remember to think, explore, learn!

~Sara

The First Official Day of Summer!

I’m sure at this point, everyone is out of school for the summer. But we’ve all heard of that particular day in June, the Summer Solstice, that marks the first official day of summer. The summer solstice is a really cool concept because not only is there a ton of science behind it, but there is also a lot of history and superstition associated with it. Today, June 20 2008 at 23:59 (that’s 11:59 tonight) will mark the first day of summer.

First, some background information. Earth orbits around the sun in an ellipse, which is an oval shape. To go around the sun once, it takes the Earth about 365 days, or one year. The Earth itself is divided into sections with imaginary lines. The axis is the imaginary line that goes from the North Pole to the South Pole. Along with revolving around the sun, the Earth is also rotation, or spinning, around on its axis. To complete a full spin takes about 24 hours, or one day. One very important thing to remember is that the Earth is tilted on its axis. There is also an imaginary line that goes around the Earth called the equator, which divides it in half. These pieces are called hemispheres. The top half is known as the Northern Hemisphere, and the bottom half is known as the Southern Hemisphere.

Okay, that’s all very interesting, but what does it have to do with the solstice? Well, the solstices, along with the equinoxes, occur because the Earth is at a particular spot in its orbit around the sun. There are 2 solstices that occur during the year, and 2 equinoxes. There is the Summer Solstice and the Winter Solstice, and the Vernal Equinox and the Autumnal Equinox. All four of these occurrences have to do with how much direct sunlight is pointing at the Earth at the given time. (Check out the diagram below---it might help to have a visual!)



When the Earth is in its Summer Solstice, the way the Earth is tilted on its axis is making the Northern Hemisphere the closest point to the sun, which has the Sun’s rays pointing directly at it. This also allows for more daylight hours, therefore making it the longest day of the year. The Winter Solstice is the exact opposite of this. It occurs in late December, and because the Northern Hemisphere is pointed away from the Sun and away from the direct rays. It is the shortest day of the year. The Autumnal Equinox happens in the Fall. The position the Earth is in allows for sunlight to fall directly on the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, and daylight and nighttime hours are equal. This is exactly what happens with the Vernal Equinox, only it occurs during the springtime.

For thousands upon thousands of years, religions have been intrigued by the Solstices. For that reason, the Solstice has so many mystical elements to it. Due to it’s universal intrigue, it has acquired many names throughout history. All throughout history, a bunch of different religions have have had holidays and days of ritual on the day of the Solstice. Personally, I find the Solstices especially interesting. You often see a lot of controversy between science and religion, and I think it's really cool to see that both of them find a sort of common ground in their fascination with the Solstices and the Equinoxes.




For more information, check out:

Summer Solstice 2008: Fun Facts, History, Rituals and Celebrations

About.com: Overview of the Summer Solstice


Happy Summer, guys! Keep checking back for more updates, and remember, as always, to think, explore, learn!

~Sara