It’s a two month countdown until I start optometry school in August. I’ve looked into whether or not I should start preparing academically for the road ahead but the resounding answer was a big NO. Apparently it’s no use trying to tackle tough material blindly by yourself, and they will teach you everything you need to know once you start school. Plus, once school begins you’ll wish you had fully enjoyed your summer break before the madness begins. :p So…no more academics for me since I finished my last pre-requesite class (human anatomy) last month. I’ve only just been working a ton to save up some money. Especially since it was finals week last week, most of our employees (most of who are college students) went MIA and I was one of the few people who could fill in every day.

Besides working, I really want to enjoy myself to the fullest. I don’t have the money to go traveling the world like some people do before they between undergraduate college and another 4 years of optometry school, but I still want to make it a good summer. What are some things you would do, if you didn’t have much money to spend, for one of your last care-free summers? Here are some things I’m hoping for so far:

  • Cook a full-course meal and go on a picnic
  • Thrift-shopping and swap meets for treasure finds
  • Art Walk (and our parking meters are free after 8pm)
  • Visiting our local zoo on a free day of the month
  • Jacuzzi party after a chicken waffle lunch (haha this is so specific because it’s already been planned ^_^ )
  • A trip to the arboretum
  • Bolsa Chica Conservatory
  • Watching a lot of TV shows and anime (I’ve never been one to watch that many at all when I’m in school)
  • Read a lot more books (sadly something I don’t do much for leisure when I’m in school)
  • Watch fireworks on July 4th
  • Learn how to crochet? (I was always jealous of those amigurumi patterns I could never use)
  • Do more wool felting and plushie making
  • Go to a theme park (hopefully with some good discounts)
  • Clubbing night at a local club (it could be either very ghetto or fun, we’ll see haha)
  • Beach day
  • Go hiking on some trails
  • County Fair (preferably on a day with free entrance in exchange for a donation)
  • Dollar Theater movie nights
  • Do some gaming with the bf
  • Go back to couponing (I used to get free stuff in the mail all the time and my family would ask me, “What’s today’s item?” haha)
  • Day at our favorite/beautiful library to read manga (oh yes, totally the opposite of nerdy 😎 )
  • Go back to running and getting some sunshine a few times a week
  • Train ride to somewhere as a mini-adventure
  • Karaoke lounge
  • Dave & Busters night
  • Bowling
  • Las Vegas weekend with my favorite people (obviously the most expensive thing on the list, but we’ve planned ahead and I’ve saved up for it :p )