As the school year has come to a close, high school students (myself included) have reached the point in which summer plans begin.

Bridget Brinckman, one of Arrowhead High School’s school psychologists, suggests staying occupied over the summer in order to maintain stable mental health.

“Keeping busy, keeping yourself productive, is one of the best suggestions for staying healthy in the summer,” Brinkman says. “When we are productive, we feel good about ourselves. We are achieving things. If we don’t have anything set up for us to do in the summer, it is less structured, and sometimes it’s easy to fall into a funk. It’s good to have things to do whether that be a job, clubs, volunteering or sports.”

During the summer, keeping mental health in check is important. According to Good Health, without the consistent schedule that school provides, students may feel lost. Managing emotions, as well as mental illnesses, is critical.

To keep my own mental health in check, I enjoy meditation. By focusing on my breathing for about ten minutes a day, I have found that my head is considerably more clear. The thoughts that normally race through my head slow, and since I started meditating, my levels of stress have gone down.

According to Brinkman, reading is also a wonderful way to keep an upstanding mental health. Unlike watching television, in which vacant eyes stare at a screen, I feel as though reading transports you to a different dimension. This distracts you from the world for a moment and allows you to focus on the good things in life.

Heather Heyerholm, a junior at Arrowhead High school, says, “As for stimulating my brain and keeping my mental health in order, I love reading, yoga, and meditation. Reading is always wonderful and I love how I always have time to read in the summer. I take two or three books with me to my family’s cabin because there isn’t service or internet up there. It is a nice break from the world, a perfect escape to lay in the hammock by the lake and get lost in a good book. I also love yoga. It’s wonderful in the mornings, a nice and easy way to wake up and help keep myself in shape, as well as meditation. I will also probably paint many pictures of who-knows-what.”

As for reading, I recommend It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini. This book is written from the perspective of a teenage boy who admits himself into a psychiatric institution. The book follows his journey through understanding his mental illness. The story is intertwined with comedy, romance, and drama, but not the cheesy kind. It reminds you of the important aspects of life, that you have to focus on what is positive. The author, Vizzini, committed suicide in 2013, but his memory lives on in the pages of the books he has written.

As Brinkman explained, staying distracted during the summer is helpful, and Summerfest provides this opportunity. Summerfest, a music festival located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a common summer attraction for students. According to USA Today, with a span of eleven days, the festival attracts over nine-hundred thousand people per year.

Heyerholm says, “I’m sure I will attend Summerfest for a bit before I leave for my cabin, but I love meeting new people and just enjoying the warm summer nights with my friends, listening to live music that gives me chills and makes me feel alive.”

I enjoy the Summerfest atmosphere. It is always exciting to meet new people and engage in fascinating discussions about similar interests which stray from the usual dull small talk. I am looking forward to the alternative artists attending such as The Wombats and Death Cab for Cutie.

Kimberly Laberge, a sophomore at the Kettle Moraine Perform School for Arts and Performance, says, “Summerfest is cool because it’s easy to go without intending to see a big group, but instead visiting the smaller stages to discover new music.”

Along with Summerfest, the Rave/Eagles Ballroom, a concert venue in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, offers concerts with artists of many genres. On May 24th, I saw The 1975 at this venue. Similar to Summerfest, The Rave/Eagles Ballroom provides enjoyable live music and interesting people to connect with.

Mallorey Wallace, a sophomore at Arrowhead High School, says she has attended concerts featuring Portugal the Man and Cage the Elephant. These rock bands performed at the Rave/Eagles Ballroom venue on June 8th.

The most marvelous aspect of summer is being able to spend endless hours outdoors. Taking hikes past bubbling streams and laying around in the summer sun is what excites me most about those three months.

Heyerholm says, “I plan on taking a mini road trip to many wonderful parks in Wisconsin to camp and hike, as I love adventuring and appreciating the natural beauty of the world.”

Copper Falls State Park is a beautiful location to camp. Though it is a five hour drive, the location includes winding paths through the forest as well as waterfalls tucked behind every turn. The state park is located in the town of Morse, Wisconsin, and is the most fascinating site that I have ever camped at.

According to the Department of Natural Resources, to stay at this campsite, you must have a Wisconsin State Park vehicle admission sticker. With a Wisconsin license plate, this costs $28 annually. Reservations can be booked online with a fee of $9.65.

Summer is a time for high school students to get a break from the stress of school.

When it comes to relaxing over this break, Heyerholm says, “I love walking along the rocks and looking out onto a lake that looks like an ocean, you even get that warm breeze off the lake on some days, making the huge waves crashing along the shore make it literally feel like you are on an ocean.”