Dear Friend,
Now as summer’s here and classrooms are empty, I’ve prepared holiday homework for you. Read each point, do not skip any.
Print this letter and tick the things when you’ve done them.
Read books because this is the best form of non-conformism for a student. Yeah, be a non-conformist: when everybody’s on the phone, be the only one reading.
Start writing a diary.
Do sports. Go for your first jog, ride your bike (wearing a helmet), go for a swim in a lake. You might become a triathlete one day.
Discover new music, but not the one youtube recommends. Read the lyrics and sing them out loud, even if you can’t (preferably in English). Listen to your voice and the words you say.
Turn off the phone for one whole day. Or more if you can. Don’t be a slave.
Embrace boredom. Wherever you are, observe, listen, feel. Be present instead of being elsewhere all the time.
Stay out of judgement, but pay plenty of compliments to people around you. Make someone smile.
Take a forest bath. The Japanese call it shinrin-yoku and practise slow walks in the forest to live a happier life.
Look for people who enrich, understand and accept you as you are. Spend time with people who care about you. If someone inspires you – tell them honestly how you feel.
Be kind to others, remember and practice good manners. Ask a lot of questions and do not be ashamed that you do not know something.
Don’t be afraid to fail. It’s a part of human nature to make mistakes and usually a prime lesson on how to live a good life.
Remember this: grades are feedback on your performance, not a representation of who you are. You’re not a number.
Step outside your comfort zone, don’t follow what’s known and comfortable, break the routine. Do one thing you’ve never done before. Try new sports, new food, discover new places, learn new skills or learn how to play an instrument. You might start a band one day.
Say no when you think no even if your friends laugh at you. After all, this is your life. And your decisions.
Use the grammar and vocabulary we learned during class. The more things you say and think about, the more independent you will become.
At the end of each day, find three things you are grateful for. Write them down (preferably in English). Practice for the whole summer. Scientific research calls it a gratitude journal and says it’ll boost your well-being.
Walk more. Ride more. Use cars less.
Appreciate what you have.
Love yourself.
Have the best holiday ever.
Very truly yours,
PS This letter is not my idea. I was very much inspired by an Italian teacher Cesare Cata. But no AI was used to generate any points. Credit others:
Inspired by Cesare Cata’s Compiti per l’estate 2015.