Summer Plans with ACES Sophomores and Juniors

Summer is almost here and as the weather grows warmer and the semester draws to a close, everyone's gearing up for a great season. If you are searching for summer plans read what Parizoda Axrorqulova (‘24), Ana Phanjavidze (‘23), Victoria Romão Nóbrega (‘23), and Cecile Maxi (‘23) have to say about their summer plans.

Q: Are you looking forward to vacation after the spring semester?

Parizoda: I'm desperate for a summer vacation. The spring semester has been busy for me since juggling between six classes and work, gave me less time for socializing, but that's when you realize you're becoming an adult when you don't have time for anything.

Ana: Yes, I can’t wait! It was a pretty challenging semester and I would really use a vacation now :) 

Victoria: Yes! I am so excited about summer! This semester burned me out and I am so ready for our time off.

Cecile: I love school but I’m really excited for this summer! I’m looking forward to spending days in my bed and not worrying about deadlines (haha).

Q: What are your goals for the summer?

Parizoda: My goal for the approaching summer is to appreciate life and to seek happiness within myself and my surroundings. I'd like to visit more places in New York and Uzbekistan. I also want to expand my spiritual understanding and, perhaps, create and read more poetry.

Ana: As I am going to my senior year next semester, I want this summer to be very memorable. I want to spend a lot of time with my family and friends who are in my country because I don’t know where my life will lead me after college so I want to make the best of the time I have with them.

Victoria: This summer I definitely want to travel. I am also planning on reading a lot since I don't have much time during the semester to read books that I like. I also want to keep writing this summer, this semester has just been so overwhelming that I could not dedicate myself to writing as much as I would like, so this is definitely a goal.

Cecile: My main goal this summer is to get an internship during the summer in the marketing field. I’m also looking forward to meeting new people and getting out of my comfort zone and having fun!

Q: What kinds of outdoor/indoor activities do you enjoy during the summer?

Parizoda: During the summer, I enjoy going out with my friends and sister to chill out and see the city. Our goal with my sister this summer is to learn to skateboard, so we'll be frequent visitors to Flushing Meadows Park, where we've been hanging out with my sister since we were kids. With my bestie, I love to visit Long Island City since our high school was there and hang out on the Pier. 

Ana: I love traveling, so every summer me and my family or my friends go to different countries, we go to the beaches and cool places that we want to visit. Due to COVID, I didn’t travel much past years but I like to go to my mountain house and went hiking a couple of times.

Victoria: During the summer I love going to the beach with my friends, reading books, painting, going to my dad's mountain house, and hiking.

Cecile: This summer will be the first where I won’t go home (Haiti), so I don’t know what to do in NY (I’m open to any suggestions). I usually enjoy going to the beach, BBQ, hanging out with my friends, or even staying home playing with my dogs and cousins.

Q: Are there any places you would like to visit? Is it in New York or elsewhere?

Parizoda: I have a long list of places I want to visit. I'd want to travel to Italy and Greece to explore the tiny villages. In addition, I'd like to see Colorado, North Carolina, and California. But this summer, I'll be traveling to my native country, Uzbekistan.

Ana: Before I leave NY, for the summer I want to go to Coney Island with my friends. At the end of May, I am going to Greece with Honor’s Program and I can’t wait for that trip! Also, I am dying to go to Brazil and see São Paulo and Rio and I might go there till I come back to NY next semester. 

Victoria: I am planning to visit Greece this summer with the Honors Program, and also possibly Georgia (the country not the state). In New York, before I leave, I want to go to Coney Island, I have never been to one amusement carnival here in the USA and I am really curious about it.

Cecile: This summer I’m going to Chicago and probably Florida. For my birthday I want to take a trip to Europe, France or Spain. Hopefully, I will be able to make it happen.

Q: Why do you wanna visit these places? 

Parizoda: I wish to go to Italy and Greece to learn more about their cultures and to see the different sites they have. For example, I've been enamored with how little towns and farms seem in films and television series set in Italy and Greece, and I feel they have a distinct atmosphere. And I want to visit Colorado, North Carolina, and California because I have never been outside of New York and I would love to explore its forests and locations.

Ana: I wanna visit these places because my best friend (who is also in ACES) is Brazilian and I want to visit her and see where she and her family lives and the places she told me about! I think it will be a lot of fun. And also who doesn’t want to see Brazilian beaches ;) 

Victoria: I have always dreamed about going to Greece since I watched Mamma Mia for the first time, I am also obsessed with Greek Mythology and history, so going there is a dream come true. I really want to go to Georgia because one of my best friends is from there, she has told me so many cool things about the country that made me want to go there and experience her culture firsthand.

Cecile: I have friends studying in France and it’s been 3 years since the last time I saw them. I feel like it will be a nice time to visit them but also explore the city.

Q: Who are you going to spend time with over the summer?

Parizoda: During the summer, I will be in Uzbekistan, specifically in Samarkand. I'll be there with my mother and sister. And I'll be spending most of my time with my cousins, whom I grew up with, as well as uncles and aunts.

Ana: As I mentioned I am going to spend a lot of time with my friends, family, and Victoria (Brazilian bestie) but I am open to meeting new people and creating fun memories with them.

Victoria: I am going to spend time with my family, I haven't seen them since August 2021, and also my friends who I haven't seen since the Pandemic started.

Cecile: This summer I want to enjoy my own company, get to know myself better, and explore new places. I will also be spending time with my family and friends.

Q: Did the spring semester influence your summer plans?

Parizoda: The spring semester had a significant impact on my summer plans; throughout the summer, I will not be thinking about my essays or setting alarms in the morning. But I'm also looking forward to the Fall semester and a little melancholy that the term is coming to a close. Every semester, I realize that every trip comes to an end and a new route begins.

Ana: Yes, I decided on all these trips this semester and I hope all of them will work out as planned! 

Victoria: Definitely! I don't wanna think about studying until Fall LOL. But also taking the class to go to Greece was a big part of my spring semester, and now I am looking forward to the trip.

Cecile: Yes, definitely. I met a lot of wonderful people this semester. I'm looking forward to spending time with them and also getting to know them.