Summer bucket lists are common among teenagers. Lots of students use this as a way to map out their summers and the goals they have for the three-month break. Most of them contain mundane items like going to the beach, hanging out with friends, tanning, trying new hobbies, etc. Although these lists seem harmless, there is a darker side that may be lurking behind the scenes, but is featured all over social media. One can see these lists that seem innocent on the surface, but they could contain illegal activities that teenagers should not be entertaining. Not all teens may do these, but they could still feel pressure from their peers or social media to try them.
Liam Kissling, a junior, has made a bucket list for this summer. He mentioned that he plans to do lots of fishing and try new things. He currently works with the National Guard. He said, “I will get to throw live grenades, and I’m super excited to do that.” Kissling also works as a lifeguard during the summer. He is planning to travel to the Kapilatchan mountains and also the Grand Canyon with his friends. Along with going there, he plans to do other activities that include people he cares about and likes to hang around with.
Kissling also expressed that some people he knows will have a list that includes illegal activities like drinking or smoking over the summer. He said, “Some people that I know have wanted to go to parties and drink, which isn’t good because they’re underage. ” He also added that he will sometimes feel pressured to participate in these activities, and it affects how he feels. He said, “I do feel a little bit of pressure to do these things by myself and sometimes my peers.” This is a normal feeling for teens, and even friends may try to push these ideas onto each other. Although Kissling feels pressure, he still plans to have a normal and fun summer with his friends, family, and at his job.
Another student, who also has a bucket list, is Grace Schouten, also a junior at the high school. She feels a similar pressure to Kissling. She said, “From other people our age who are doing that type of stuff, there’s always pressure.” Schouten mentioned that some of her friends have tried to go on double dates, which she feels uncomfortable with because they are usually random guys that can be found through social media.
While Schouten doesn’t have many social media apps, she still hears about some of the illegal activities that teens partake in, but does not find herself or her close friends doing. Her summer list is simpler and more fun. She said that she usually just goes with the flow, but she wants to do a race, with a 10k run as a goal, hanging out with friends, and training for her cross-country season. Schouten said, “Mostly, my bucket was consistent, just trying to make it a priority to go and do things with friends and spend time with my family.”
Both of these students have simple, but fun lists, while mainly choosing to spend time with friends and family for these three months of summer. Kissling and Schouten alike have heard about the inappropriate acts and have not participated in them, but still felt some pressure to try to do them from their peers. This not only highlights, but proves that not all summers need to have the “bad” activities that social media shows teens do, and that even some around the high school might participate in, are not always happening. Some experiences, like hanging out with friends at the pool or at a park, can be just as exciting. Summer is right around the corner, and as it gets closer, these may build to be more, but for now, it seems to be fun and simple, so both these students have the best break.
