Summer is seen as a time of fun and freedom, but what else can one do aside from swimming and laying in the sun all day? The answer is: plenty! Making candles to use at home or send as a gift, painting pottery, eating different cultural food and so much more. It’s also important to have things to do because you never know what these experiences can bring into your life long term.

Eat at new restaurants

Instead of eating somewhere familiar, try dining somewhere new. Indiana has many places that are hidden gems, and I have made it my personal goal to eat at most of them. If you do not want to spend a huge amount of money, there are many that are around the $20 budget. Tandoori Flame is an Indian restaurant with food that is rich in flavor. I was so impressed that I still crave it to this day. I recommend getting the butter chicken and garlic naan, or Biryani if you want to just try the culture out. They also have many vegetarian options. Kissaten is a great Japanese restaurant with signature noodles and dishes. I suggest trying the Shoyo or Tonkatsu ramen just to get a glimpse of what they have in store. “Sisters” is more on the pricey side because it is a restaurant that has Korean barbeque. Don’t let the price scare you because the meat and tteokbokki, also known as rice cakes, makes it all worth it.

Host a picnic
This will require some time to plan, but it is very enjoyable. If you are like me and you like to plan things, having a picnic is a core memory. I suggest having a theme because it helps me figure out what type of food to bring and the overall aesthetic. For example, will the picnic have mainly sweets, savory food or fruits? What is the budget? Do my friends and family want to take group pictures? If so, what should we wear? Those are the types of questions to ask. Also, it is vital to check the weather of that day and have a back up plan. A picnic can be held at a park or in someone’s backyard. Knowing where to get certain food is also
important. I got my sweets from downtown and from a student baker, while my friends got drinks from Kroger. During the picnic, anything can be done, such as games, reading books or just quality time.

Transform
Summer is a great time to transform yourself mentally and physically. Mentally, heal yourself from stress and the negative energy around you. Words are powerful and can either break someone down or build someone up, so be mindful of what you say. A compliment goes a long way. Practice saying affirmations because if you believe in yourself, no one else can really stop you. There will always be Negative Nancys in the world, but surround yourself with love and kindness and pay them no mind. I suggest keeping a journal to write down these sayings and reminders everyday.
Give yourself a spa day and focus on your physical health. Cut your hair, try a new style or dye your hair a different color. There are hair schools such as Empire Beauty School and Paul Mitchell that can settle on a reasonable price with you if you do not want to spend a lot of money. I recommend getting your nails done too and have the experience of a foot massage. Any professional
nail salon business can help with the latter. Last but not least, gyms often have discounts for those wanting to improve their fitness so keep your eyes open for deals. For example, Planet Fitness, opened their gym to teens for free all summer. Overall, use this time to make memories and explore Indiana.

Eat at new restaurants 

Instead of eating at a hamburger place, try dining at a Mexican or Indian restaurant. Indiana has many places that are hidden gems and I have made it my personal goal to eat at most of them. If you do not want to spend a huge amount of money, there are many that are around the $20 budget. “Tandoori Flame” is an Indian restaurant with food that is rich in flavor. I was so impressed that I still crave it to this day. I suggest getting the garlic chicken and garlic naan, or Biryani if you want to just try the culture out. They also have many vegetarian options. “Kissaten” is a great Japanese restaurant with signature noodles and dishes from Japan. I suggest trying Shoyo or Tonkotsu ramen just to get a glimpse of what they have in store. “Sisters” is more on the pricey side because it is a Korean restaurant that has Korean barbeque, which means the meat costs a bit. Don’t let the price scare you because the meat and tteokbokki, also known as rice cakes, makes it all worth it. 

Host a picnic 

This will require some time to plan, but it is very enjoyable. If you are like me and you like to plan things, having a picnic is a core memory. I suggest having a theme because it helps me figure out what type of food to bring and the overall aesthetic. For example, will the picnic have mainly sweets, savory food or fruits? What is the spending budget? Do my friends and family want to take group pictures? If so, what should we wear? Those are the types of questions I ask to lead myself to success. Also, it is vital to check the weather of that day and have a back up plan. A picnic can be held at a park, or in someone’s backyard. Knowing where to get certain food is also important. I got my sweets from downtown and from a student baker, while my friends got drinks from Kroger. During the picnic, anything can be done, such as games, reading books or just quality time. 

Cook a dish 

Learning how to cook is a vital life skill, and even if you are not the next Gordan Ramsey, you should know something basic to make. If you’re starting from scratch and do not know how to cook, eggs are easy to use and incorporated in dishes. Then I’d learn how to cook vegetables because there are ways to make it more flavorful but you also have to learn not to burn it. I would say to save cooking meat for last because the basics should be learned first. If you already know how to cook a little, buy a cookbook or look at recipes from different cultures and make it to your own liking. For example, things like homemade pho, fried rice, hot-cheeto covered chicken- the possibilities are endless. It is also useful for when you don’t know what to cook in college, or what to bring to parties. There is a lot of free time in the summer and though cooking may take a while, homemade food always tastes the best. 

Transform

Summer is a great time to transform yourself mentally and physically. Mentally, heal yourself from trauma and the negative energy around you. Words are powerful and can either break someone down or build someone up, so be mindful of what you say. A compliment goes a long way. Practice saying affirmations because if you believe in yourself, no one else can really stop you. There will always be negative nancies in the world, but surround yourself with love and kindness and pay them no mind. I suggest keeping a journal to write down these sayings and reminders everyday. Give yourself a spa day and focus on your physical health. Cut your hair, try a new style, or dye your hair a different color. There are hair schools such as Empire Beauty School and Paul Mitchell The School that can settle on a reasonable price with you if you do not want to spend a lot of money. I suggest getting your nails done too and have the experience of a foot massage. Any professional nail salon business can help with the latter. Last but not least, gyms often have discounts for those wanting to improve their fitness so keep your eyes open for deals. For example, planet fitness opened their gym to teens for free all summer. 

Attend events

Be involved in the community. I don’t mean just attending concerts in Indy or in states nearby, but to actually volunteer or go out of your comfort zone to explore different places, cultures and religions. I am Chin so I know many Chin activities, but if you were to ask around, many people would be able to tell you where to get involved. The Burmese American Community Institute holds events such as Myanmar Union Day which exposes the Burmese dance and culture to everyone. Chin Youth Organization holds a bi-annual event where all Chin Youth from the country gather to watch dances, fashion shows and so on. If you look up volunteering events near you, the website should list some places that you can go to like “Keep Indiana Beautiful”. You can also watch musicals that high schools produce and help support their cause. That allows you to dwell into the world of theater as well. So talk to people, find friends from different backgrounds and spend each day learning about how diverse our world is. 

Read books

Reading may seem boring at first, but it is a great way to use time and also engage the brain. Going to libraries near you to rent out books or buying from places like “Barnes  & Nobles” and “Half Priced Books” is a way to start. If you’re interested in books but do not know what you want to read, reading books that are slightly trendy can help you out. For example, “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” is a combination of drama, history and fiction and is a pretty trendy book nowadays with many good reviews. A reporter gets an interview with an icon star that hasn’t accepted an interview for decades and the novel follows her life to the very end. There is even a plot twist that slowly reveals itself and finishes with a shocking ending, so there will be a few tear jerking scenes. 

Hiking

Explore Indiana’s beautiful nature through hiking. I know that may not sound pleasing and seem tiring, but the scenery is great for pictures and picnics. Some places even have horse riding. My favorite park is Turkey Run State Park with its beautiful rock formations and water. Even though I was there once, it left such a good impression on me. The views always kept me entertained and parks allow you to go at your own pace. Coxhall Garden makes me feel like I’m living in a rich, fantasy world and honestly great for senior pictures. There’s even a place called Funky Bones that has artwork shaped as a skeleton and was featured in a movie. I didn’t even know it existed until I asked a teacher about places I should visit and she recommended that location. It’s located near a nature park and the Indianapolis Museum of Art.  If you intend to go, wear shoes to help you walk through difficult passages and carry a first aid kit just in case. Of course, your phone or camera because I know I couldn’t stop myself from taking so many pictures.