No Summer Break, No Problem (Mostly)

The beginning of June has a very specific energy in my family.

My dad was a college professor. My mom spent her career as a principal and administrator. Both of my sisters are teachers. So when June rolls around, there's a shift. The group texts get livelier. Someone inevitably sends a photo of a margarita. Words like freedom and nap and vacation countdown start flying around.

It’s summer break season, and for them, it’s sacred.

I didn’t go into education like the rest of my family, though I grew up surrounded by lesson plans, school schedules, and a deep belief in the power of learning. Instead, I ended up in operations and consulting—fields where there is definitely no “last day of school.” The work doesn’t slow down in June. In some ways, it ramps up. There are events to plan, projects to launch, systems to reevaluate. The calendar keeps going.

And honestly? I kind of love it.

Don’t get me wrong—I wouldn’t say no to an eight-week sabbatical and a beach chair—but there’s something fulfilling about this rhythm. I like the way my work moves with the seasons of real life, not the academic calendar. I get to help people build momentum during the quieter months, prepare for busy seasons, and carve out space for their own versions of “summer break,” even if it’s just an afternoon off that actually feels restorative.

Plus, I still get to channel that teacher energy. Explaining a new system, walking someone through a process, or helping a client see a path forward—it’s not so different from standing in front of a classroom. I just traded chalkboards for spreadsheets, and report cards for project timelines.

So no, I don’t get a summer break. But I do get something else: the chance to keep learning, keep building, and keep helping others do the same—all year long.

And if I’m being honest, I still text back with a margarita emoji anyway.