Some things are better left unsaid, but this isn’t one of those things, so I am going to say it: summer is your opportunity to make some big changes. If nothing comes to mind, just ask a couple of classmates what they’d like to see different in you. (Be sure to take several large sheets of paper along, and wear a wrist support.)

For many of you, summer vacation means not seeing most of your classmates for about three months. You can change a lot in that amount of time! For example, you could change the lock on your bedroom door and never again be interrupted by your rude sibling.

Better still, you could change your “look.” Let’s say you’re a boy who left seventh grade wearing one of those boring school uniforms. But come next school year, well, things are different! You watch your classmates’ jaws drop when they see you wearing one of those same boring school uniforms—but with deep gashes now adorning your entire face.

“Cool look,” gorgeous Phemmie Fox says as she opens her locker. Phemmie has never even so much as glanced in your direction before, let alone spoken to you. She places a book in her locker and speaks again. “Where’d you have it done?”

“H-have what done?” you ask.

“Your face, you know, the scars. Are they wax, or what?”

Does Phemmie have a thing for facial disfigurement? you wonder.

“Um, well, I . . . I got contacts,” you hesitantly respond.

“Nice, but what about those great-looking scars?”

“Oh, well, um, you see, I had a little trouble getting my contacts in at first.”

Phemmie’s eyes grow wide, and she blurts out, “Y-you mean . . . those scars are real?”

You smile broadly. “They sure are! In fact—”

But you cannot finish your sentence because your voice is suddenly drowned out by the blood-curdling scream coming from Phemmie’s lovely but trembling lips. You realize too late that in the matter of impressing girls, wax scars are the best way to go.

Now, when it comes to you girls, I probably can’t be quite as helpful. Still, there is one change you may wish to consider making over the summer months: you can stroll into school with a dark, rich tan.

If Rich Tan doesn’t go to your school, though, don’t worry. Just about any guy will do. The idea is to convince your schoolmates that you got a boyfriend over the summer. One of the great things about technology is that you can nurture a romantic relationship via cell phone. You might not even have to see the guy all summer long! The important thing is for you to be spotted together the first morning of the new school year. You can ditch him later that day between classes, but the impression that you have changed and are now in high demand as a girlfriend will have been made, and that’s what really counts.

Well, I guess there is a better way you could spend your summer. You could get to know Jesus really well. If you do, you’re bound to be a different person when you start the new school year.

“Turn the eye away from self; look unto Jesus, talk of His matchless love. By beholding Him you will be changed into His likeness.”*

Love changes everything—including you.

*Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 201.