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As a university student, I don't envision the ideal summer as simply an escape from academic responsibilities. In my imagination, it's more of a carefully planned journey for "self-regeneration and discovery." I disagree with both complete "laziness" and anxiously "worrying about every minute." It's about finding a balance between rest and personal growth.

My ideal summer begins with "disconnecting" from the daily routine. I don't have to wake up to the sound of an alarm, but I still wake up with the morning sun and enjoy a quiet, undisturbed breakfast. I don't fill the days with packed schedules, but leave them for those "small joys" that I never have time for during the school year. I can finally catch up on movies and get lost in stories, go to a gallery and stand in front of a painting for a long time, or go on a trip with friends outside the city, where the wind and birdsong will relieve my fatigue. These "empty spaces" are not wasted time, but an opportunity for my soul to regain a sense of the subtle rhythms of life.

However, the ideal summer should also have its own "corner for learning." I want to use this continuous time to learn something "unnecessary" – perhaps start learning a foreign language that has long fascinated me, and appreciate its melody and logic, or spend a quiet afternoon reading thick books by classic authors, not for an exam, but for a conversation with great ideas. At the same time, I will reflect on the past semester, evaluate what went well and what didn't, and set new goals. This active desire for discovery gives me a feeling that I am truly "living," and not just surviving.

Finally, summer is the best opportunity to strengthen emotional bonds. I return home, patiently listen to my parents, help them with cooking, and absorb those everyday conversations that always sound so abbreviated over the phone. I also meet up with old friends, have a drink in a small pub, and share our life stories, so that our friendships gain new strength from real encounters.

In short, the ideal summer for me is not a race to a goal, but rather a refueling station for the soul. Here, I can heal my frayed nerves and regain the courage and enthusiasm to step into the unknown. When it ends, I would like to return with a clear vision, dreams in my heart, and a firmer step – not with a heavy backpack on my back and an empty inbox. That is the most valuable exchange that summer can offer me.

Lu Mengya

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