Five Ways to Keep in Touch over the Summer
Written by Avery Lacey
Each year after dancing at Centralhallapalooza, stressing over finals, and final trips to Baw Beese, you say goodbye to your very best friends for a whole three months. You’ve invested in deep friendships at Hillsdale, so don’t let them waste away over the summer! Here are a few ideas for keeping in touch with those who are usually right down the hall:
1. Roll Call
A picture is worth a thousand words, and easier to send! Try this with your friends: whenever anyone texts “Roll call” to your group chat, everyone has to send a picture of whatever they are doing at the time. It’s a nice way to get a real feel for people’s lives—the coffee shops, the little siblings, and the boring cubicles.
2. Big letter
Another idea for a group of friends: one person starts by writing a letter to the group on part of a huge piece of paper, then sends it off to another friend who does the same. As the letter travels around the country, it will fill up with writing, and you’ll have a beautiful keepsake at the end of the summer. When my friends and I did this, we included pictures and drawings—anything we wanted to share. Just make sure no one forgets about the letter and holds onto it for the whole summer!
3. Book club
Do you ever start the summer with a long reading list and the best of intentions, only to find that it’s already August and you’ve read one book? Try reading with a friend or two. Not only will they keep you accountable, but their perspectives will add depth to your reading. Plus, it’s good practice for when we graduate and don’t have assigned reading and amazing lectures every day.
4. Commute calling
If you commute to your summer job or internship, make use of the time by calling your friends. This way you can plan it (e.g., you know you’ll be in the car from 5:15-6:00 p.m. every day), so it will actually happen! Thinking of this window as your phone time makes it easier to schedule in those you wouldn’t instinctively call, like that great aunt you really should check in with, or that high school friend who is studying abroad.
5. Prayer
Prayer brings friends together like nothing else, and you don’t have to be in the same place to do it! Whether it’s the liturgy of the hours, Anglican common prayer, or lifting up your intentions, set aside a few minutes to spend with your friend and God. It doesn’t have to be an hour-long discussion, just a quick prayer at night. This is a good way to share the most important part of your life with your close friends.
Avery Lacey, ’20, studies philosophy, politics, and economics at Hillsdale. She avoids doing homework by volunteering, talking with friends, or determinedly hanging out at Baw Beese, no matter the temperature.
Published in July 2019