So, you’ve graduated from high school and soon you will be off to Uni, much to the utter dismay of your parents who never could quite picture you leaving their side. Fortunately, this is the beginning of a new and exciting chapter in your life, one that deserves to have a rich and rewarding foreword, so you want this summer the best summer of your life.

Contrary to popular belief, the success of the summer leading up to your departure for Uni is not measured in alcohol units and sleepless nights, but rather it is measured in the unique experiences with which you enrich your mind, body, and soul. By the time your last summer as a kid is over, you want to be a changed person. Here is how to make your last summer before Uni the best you ever had.

Spend time with your friends

Life brings people together but it also pulls them in opposite directions, oftentimes creating strangers of people who believed they would forever remain in touch. Such is the harsh reality of life, and that is why this is one of the last opportunities you have to spend time with the people you love.

Soon, they will be off to conquer their own goals, and while this summer is certainly not the last time you’ll see them, you shouldn’t solely rely on the promises of eternal friendship, but rather make the most out of the time you have now to be together.

Meet new people

A new era might be in its infancy, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t put a spark on new lifelong friendships even before the first semester begins. Do you know some of the people that have gotten into the same university as you? Good, try to make friends with them.

You will be surprised at the number of new people with whom you can connect on a deep, emotional level, people you probably never noticed or knew existed before. Not only will you make friends during the summer, but you won’t feel like a total alien the moment you step onto the campus grounds.

Fly abroad and discover new cultures

The summer before Uni is the perfect time to take that trip abroad you’ve always dreamed of. Remember, this is not like taking a gap year when you have all the time in the world to explore the globe – this should be an organized summer excursion you can experience fully.

The most popular destinations among students-to-be are the famous cities in Europe, the Caribbean, as well as the organized Fiji schoolies that are specifically designed to host freshmen and women, helping them live out the adventure of a lifetime before turning a new page in the book of life.

Discover your strengths

Once at Uni, you will be considered a fully-fledged adult, even if you might not feel like one, so the summer before the first semester is the perfect time to discover your strengths and your positive sides, and work on your weaknesses.

Taking the time to work on yourself and develop your true potential will prove to be invaluable in the future, so be sure to take up the sports and activities you never found the time for until now.

Be a humanitarian

Finally, this is the time to learn what it truly means to be a better human being. There is not quite a fulfilling and rewarding experience as helping others, so be sure to take up any type of humanitarian work you feel is important.

This will allow you to discover new paths in life and take a journey of self-exploration that might end up defining you as a human being, and your entire future as well. So, don’t skip the opportunity to become a better earthling.

The years you spend at Uni will be some of the most profound and meaningful periods of your life. It’s important that you lead into it with a sound mind and a loving heart, enriched with life-changing experiences that will help you become the person you deserve to be. Better make this summer count.

Roxana is a travel enthusiast and lifestyle consultant from Sydney and she loves to write about her adventures. She is all about the healthy lifestyle, loves to run with her husband and dogs and has fun cooking exotic meals for her family. Being a typical Aussie, she often hits the waves and loves beaches and sunshine! You can find out more about her writing following her on twitter and facebook. She is also one of the editors at Higstylife Magazine.