2008 Woodie Awards
Devil's Advocate
Weekly Advice with a Devilish Twist
Issue date: 7/14/08Section: Features
Dear Devil's Advocate,
Every summer I finish my exams and I am relieved, but then I go home and I get bored. I mean mind-numbingly, jaw-dropping bored. All I do is sit on the couch eating potato chips and watch television because there is nothing to do. I come from a rural area where there are mainly farmlands and cows for miles. The nearest mall is about 25 miles away and the "local" movie theater is 40 miles, which almost uses all of my gas just to see one movie. All of this really makes me miss school and all of the activity going on constantly. How can I survive the summer away from campus?
Sincerely,
Bored Bob
Dear Bob,
Going home can be pretty brutal, especially going from a huge metropolitan city full of opportunity on every corner, to a place where you cannot even see the summer blockbusters. Even though your hometown may not be the most exciting place in the world, it is still home. Since you are at school 90 percent of the time, take this time to spend with family and friends who you do not usually get to see in the summer. Hang out with your siblings, help your dad on the farm and visit your grandparents - they're all people who will appreciate time with you, since they never get to see you, and plus, you're a fresh face to them. Call your friends from high school and see what they're up to. They are probably as bored as you are, so maybe you all could come up with ideas to break the boredom.
You could make a summer reading list. Not only will it pass the time, but you might learn something. You could also start an exercise program to get in shape. Maybe if you really get into a routine you could even keep it going come fall semester. Also, you could try to find a job or a place to volunteer your time. It might not be the most fun thing to do, but it will certainly pass the time and you might make some money, too. If you make enough money in the summer, you won't have to work during the school year, which means less stress.
Every summer I finish my exams and I am relieved, but then I go home and I get bored. I mean mind-numbingly, jaw-dropping bored. All I do is sit on the couch eating potato chips and watch television because there is nothing to do. I come from a rural area where there are mainly farmlands and cows for miles. The nearest mall is about 25 miles away and the "local" movie theater is 40 miles, which almost uses all of my gas just to see one movie. All of this really makes me miss school and all of the activity going on constantly. How can I survive the summer away from campus?
Sincerely,
Bored Bob
Dear Bob,
Going home can be pretty brutal, especially going from a huge metropolitan city full of opportunity on every corner, to a place where you cannot even see the summer blockbusters. Even though your hometown may not be the most exciting place in the world, it is still home. Since you are at school 90 percent of the time, take this time to spend with family and friends who you do not usually get to see in the summer. Hang out with your siblings, help your dad on the farm and visit your grandparents - they're all people who will appreciate time with you, since they never get to see you, and plus, you're a fresh face to them. Call your friends from high school and see what they're up to. They are probably as bored as you are, so maybe you all could come up with ideas to break the boredom.
You could make a summer reading list. Not only will it pass the time, but you might learn something. You could also start an exercise program to get in shape. Maybe if you really get into a routine you could even keep it going come fall semester. Also, you could try to find a job or a place to volunteer your time. It might not be the most fun thing to do, but it will certainly pass the time and you might make some money, too. If you make enough money in the summer, you won't have to work during the school year, which means less stress.
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