As we’ve gotten older, we’ve spent less time running around doing things we like (going to the beach, lounging at backyard barbeques, having sleepovers) and more time working random summer jobs so we can pay off our student loans in a decent time frame and the freedom to buy what we want. While making money is a great idea -- seriously, we’ll be grateful to have the extra cash in a few years -- we also need to remember not to get caught up in the anticipation of our next paycheck.
Though adult responsibilities loom in the near future, you can’t let that idea take you away from the present. After college, you will have plenty of opportunities to make money. A job you get right out of college will not be the job you have 10 years later, so you don’t have to panic now about automatically landing the job of your dreams. With this in mind, you don’t need to rush into a new life the moment you graduate -- you don’t yet need to save up for a new apartment or a fancy car. Living with your parents for another few years (and I’m talking two or three, not 10) to save a few thousand dollars on rent is not the worst plan. So, sure, work a summer job in college to build up a decent savings, but don’t let that job take over your only free time over break.
College is the only time in your life you will actually have free time. After college, personal time is sparse -- taking off from work is not simple, and at most, you may have two weeks to yourself. Take sick days into account, and you have to plan your time off wisely. During college, you have a month at Christmas, a week during spring, and four months during summer. With so much time on your hands and no stressful/boring (though who knows, fun jobs do exist) 9-to-5 job to trudge to every weekday, college breaks are the best time to actually kick back without a care. No schoolwork, no work work (summer jobs may be stressful, but you don’t have to worry about getting stuck there the rest of your life -- a summer job is meant to be temporary). Now is when you’ve got it made! Take advantage of the free time, the independence. Want to spend a week at the beach? Sure, why not? Want to go on a road trip across the country? Go for it!
As a recent college graduate, I struggled to come to terms with this. I thought that I needed to do everything right now. I planned to graduate, go to grad school, apply for as many jobs as possible, and burst into the real world as fast as I could. Once I realized that I could not rush directly from undergrad into grad school without burning out mentally, I started thinking of alternative options. Now, I am set to be in the Disney College Program in the fall -- an opportunity I have been told on countless occasions I should not do for the money. About half of my paycheck will be taken for housing, and the rest I will spend on food and souvenirs. I will spend four or more months essentially in financial limbo. Afterward, I would like to travel for a bit before heading to grad school. The plans I had made my freshman year of college have now drastically changed -- and I like what’s coming next.
Though you don’t have to extend your break as I am, at least enjoy the time in front of you. Life will not be this easy (yes, your life is easy now, despite the stress school may cause) once you land in the dreaded real world. Do what you will not have the time to do later -- you may think you’ll have plenty of time in the future, but don’t take that risk. You can afford to say “no” the next time someone wants a shift taken on your only day off.
