By Sarah M. Lightbody
So, you’re graduating. Maybe you’ve got a job at Goldman lined up, maybe you’re taking some time off to travel, or maybe you have no idea what you want to do tomorrow — much less the next few months. Leaving the Harvard bubble to go into the real world is scary. Like the proverbial bird out of the proverbial nest, however, it’s time for you to soar out of Harvard and into summer. And what would summer be without a bucket list? Here are the 10 things you should do this summer post-graduation.
1) Thank somebody from your past.
This is your Oscars moment — the moment to thank your mom/little brother/elementary school teacher for all they’ve done for you. Send an email to somebody who helped you along the way to becoming a college grad. They’ll appreciate it.
2) Marie Kondo your life.
No matter what your next step is, it doesn’t make sense to be toting around about 22 years worth of things. If it doesn’t bring you joy, toss it. Anything you get rid of now is one less thing you have to pack for your next adventure.
3) Freak out a little.
Just a little. College is an intense time, and leaving to do something you’ve never done before (like be a real adult) can seem pretty daunting. Acknowledge it, journal about it, scream-cry with your friends about it, and then move forward.
4) Do one totally cliché summer thing.
Tan outside for a day, go to a drive-in movie, or just spend an afternoon eating millions of popsicles.{shortcode-860374f17a2eb0b4fb96232bee8359523fa6d8d7}
5) Leave your hometown/new city/wherever you are for a getaway.
You’re an adult now — nobody can tell you not to go on a road trip. Even a two-hour long vacation is still a vacation if you treat it like one.
6) Spruce up your resume.
Change your LinkedIn headshot to one that makes you look like the esteemed college graduate that you are and, while you still can, connect with all the kids you were in section with who were super annoying but are definitely going places.
7) Learn to cook one adult meal.
It doesn’t have to be fancy; it just has to be something you could serve at a dinner party or to your grandmother when you want to show off how mature you are.
8) Figure out your finances.
This bucket list item might not be very exciting, but it’s time to build that credit score (and figure out what a retirement account is). Hit up your friends in finance and see if they can explain the difference between a mutual fund and an index fund. Bonus points if you manage to stay awake during the explanation.
9) Write a letter to your future self.
This is the culmination of 16 years of hard work, and a little nostalgia never hurt anybody. Maybe include a selfie too — you’ll never look this young again.
10) Take some time to relax.
Catch up on sleep and spend a day (or two) doing absolutely nothing. After all, it is summer, and you deserve a break.
So fly away little birdies; fly out of this nest. Remember that you’ve got this. Summer should be fun, and this one is no exception. No matter what your future plans are, you made it this far. The rest is just life.
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