On summer goals:

Goals are beautiful. For me, they give me a certain focus in life that I would otherwise sorely lack.
It's okay if they're "not serious". I think they're better if they're not serious: they're practice for the serious ones that you'll have in life: graduating, hitting those high-level jobs, getting published.

So I have my list of summer goals: a list of five things to keep me from being too unproductive this summer, and to help me improve myself, with a bit of explanation for each.

1. Finish my novel, or at least straighten it out completely. 
I've had this novel be a part of me since seventh grade-- nearly six years. It's changed enormously since then, with me making little tweaks and changes every so often, and I feel almost detached from the story (not completely, but enough to make me feel uncomfortable with it).
"A fiction can enter your dreams, possess her creators, talk to them through you" is a line from Promethea (Alan Moore and JH William III's beautiful graphic novel series on the goddess of creation and imagination), but my story hasn't "possessed" me in years. I'm going to take the time to dig through the layers of false imagery that I've piled on my baby and dig out its heart to see if it's worth salvaging.

2. Complete a large canvas painting. 
I haven't completed a painting in years, and haven't really arted in months: I regret this. Again, it's time to get back to my roots, recharge, and acrylicize my life because it sorely lacks colour right now.

3a. Read at least 7 books on classical thought and 7 books on media theory.
3b. Engage in discussion, expand thoughts, intensify critical thinking. 
I have a pretty good mind for memorization and understanding, but I'm positively shitty when it comes to really deep (or meaningful) critical thinking where it matters. It's something I've made excuses about for a while (for reasons that I don't even really understand) but as a future policymaker and social scientist, this is a part of me that needs developing so I can contribute to solutions and not just explanations to all the problems in our society.
(And I'm also intensely interested in the media, and how it's transformed us as creatures. McLuhan ho!)

4. Get at least 20 posts to this blog: 20 good ones. 
Practicing writing!

5. Earn at least $1000 (just as a nominal goal for a job/business venture). 
Well, come on. Who doesn't like money? I just didn't want to say "a job" because I'd love to get involved in a business venture and earn money that way too-- I didn't want to restrict myself. But a job would be super nice too.

What are your summer goals?

(I have a summer bucket list too, but that's still being written.)