Summer is one of the best opportunities that a student can ever get. It’s three uninterrupted months of nothing but opportunity. However, this opportunity usually gets passed up in favor of just relaxing. While you should utilize this break in the academic year, you should not pass up this wonderful opportunity while it lasts. Here are some things to do this summer instead of nothing:

1. Catch up on your to-read list

I know my stack of books and plays to read is a mile high and summer can be a really great time to try and get caught up with all of these stories. Knock some of these books of off your list this summer. Some good books to pick up this summer are The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur and The Selection series by Kiera Cass.

2. Find a summer internship

Summer internships and apprenticeships are the perfect way to add to your resume and get a taste of the types of jobs that are in your area of specialty for the future. They’re fantastic learning experiences and they look great to future employers. There is an internship for just about every field and you can start looking here.

3. Find a summer job

Getting a job over the summer is another great resume builder and you can earn some extra cash while you’re at it. There are likely plenty of small businesses willing to hire college kids to help hold up the fort for the summer. These don’t have to be related to your intended career pathway, but bonus points if it is. People going in to the medical field could benefit vastly from some over-the-summer nursing home or clinic experience.

4. Volunteer

Always wanted to help out at the humane society but never had the time? Here’s your chance. Most non-profits and community organizations are always looking for some extra helping hands. Not only is this a great way to spend your time, but you’ll likely feel great about yourself after. Volunteering is the gift that keeps on giving.

5. Get in shape

If you’ve been meaning to get to the gym for forever, utilize this as your time. Planet Fitness only costs $10 per month and this could be a great way to do what you’ve always wanted to do and live a healthier lifestyle. However, you can skip the gym membership and just start going for runs or walks with your dog instead. Running is a fantastic form of exercise and all you need is yourself and a good pair of shoes.

6. Go for a hike

Grab some friends and go out and experience nature together. This can be a great bonding experience and a great Insta opportunity. State and national parks in your area are a great place to get started or if you get really into hiking, take a road trip to a more notable national park like Yosemite. Find a park near you here.

7. Go on vacation

It is almost always easiest to carve out time to get away over the summer. There are less obligations to worry about and you can rest assured that you aren’t going to miss a surprise deadline while you’re away. Go to that place you’ve always wanted to visit and take a million pictures this summer.

8. Go to a concert/music festival

There are so many different concerts and music festivals that happen over the summer and now’s your chance to get in on a piece of the action. 2018 is the last year for Warped Tour ever, so don’t miss out on that opportunity. In addition, Panic! At The Disco is releasing a new album called “Pray For The Wicked” on June 22, 2018 and they are going on tour afterward. There’s also the classics Coachella, Faster Horses and Electric Forest (for Michiganders like myself), or Lollapalooza amongst the countless others.

9. Work on a project

Write that novel, make that mosaic of your dog made entirely of dog treats, or launch that podcast. We all have something that we think might be a fun idea, so bring it to life this summer! This could be a cool way to have something tangible at the end of the summer to add to your portfolio or just to show off. There’s no time like the present!

10. Take summer classes or workshops

If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to do something, now’s your chance. A lot of community and rec centers offer classes and seminars over the summer for small prices or for free. These are great opportunities to learn something new. In addition, find a community college nearby and get those pre-recs out of the way for cheap.

11. Watch a movie/TV series

Start clearing out your to-watch lists. They’re always coming out with new movies and new shows and you gotta get ahead before you’re behind again. I would recommend the Star Wars series in terms of movies (The Last Jedi just came out on DVD!) and I would recommend checking out Thirteen Reasons Why before the second season comes out.

12. Spend time with the people you care about

You likely don’t get to see your home friends and family while you’re at school, so make the most of the time that you have with the people that you love. However, make sure that you’re making time for the people that you WANT to spend time with. It is not worth your time to upkeep relationships that aren’t worth it anymore. Make the effort with those who make the effort for you.