Students expect summer to be the most carefree time of the year, as it is a break from school, routine, and all responsibilities. However, many students feel pressured to make their summer look like the ultimate fun.
“It’s very important for my summer to look aesthetic, because if I didn’t have a very full summer — like hanging out with friends — then my summer would be wasted,” said Emerson Aiken, a sophomore at Woodside High School.
One reason why many feel pressure is social media. Because social media feeds are constantly flooded with photos of parties, vacations, and picture-perfect moments, people often question whether they are making the most of their time.
“You see a lot of people having a really fun, aesthetic summer on social media, and when you’re in bed all day or not really doing anything, you tend to want to be like the others you see,” said Anna Bernadi, a sophomore at Carlmont High School.
According to Texas Tech University, people frequently omit times of rest and boredom on social media and instead focus on fun, curated experiences. This ends up setting unrealistic expectations and leads to comparison and self-diminishment.
“That pressure definitely comes from people on social media who are always posting about their summer, in their bikinis, going to the beach, and partying. If I don’t do that, then it makes me feel like I’m not cool enough,” Aiken said.
Furthermore, according to Talkspace, the extreme shift from structured days to a very free lifestyle can create anxiety and increased stress during summer days. Such a large amount of freedom can feel exciting at first, but after nearly three months without school, many students feel bored and disconnected.
“Summertime has a lot of options, where you think you have so much free time and have to do so many things. That can be overwhelming,” said Saiya Patel, a sophomore at Carlmont.
While many noted the harsh reality that social media has many negative effects, Bernadi also attempts to view it from a different perspective and maintain her individuality.
“I have compared myself before, but after all, you are your own person. You do your own things, and you have different interests from others, so it’s not realistic to compare. I surround myself with things I like to do rather than what I see other people like,” Bernadi said.
It’s easy to get caught up in wanting every day to be filled with fun plans, but it’s also important to cherish the days with blank space and view them as a positive opportunity rather than a disappointment.
“Summertime is a time for rest and peace. I still want to do fun things, but it’s okay if it’s not to a super high extent,” Patel said.
