Let me set up a scene for you—
I'm sitting in front of my laptop at 10:30 p.m. on a Saturday night. I'm exhausted, sore and covered in a thin layer of dried sweat after an 8-hour shift at my summer job as a cashier assistant in a wholesale store. The only thing I want right now is a shower, a little relaxation time and a full night's rest so I'm not tired at work tomorrow. Instead, I'm writing this article and thinking about the homework due dates coming up for my online summer courses.
I had every opportunity to just take it easy this summer after my junior year of college. This was definitely my most difficult year yet, and it's not as if I wouldn't have anything to do this summer other than lounge around, go swimming and play video games. Two dear friends of mine are getting married this summer, and I'm the best man. Another friend is directing a film project that I'm assisting. I'm currently taking online college courses so I have enough credits to graduate on time next May. I have my own wedding plans for next summer to think about as well, on top of everything else.
Please, don't misunderstand me, though. Even with all the things that I mentioned currently ongoing, I don't regret my summer job in the slightest bit. I personally know too many brilliant, capable people who are still struggling to find work to ever consider complaining about my job. On the contrary, I am beyond grateful for my job and consider it to be an invaluable experience I can add to my lifetime of experiences. And I'm not just talking about references and work experience I can add to my resumé, either. I'm talking about the visceral experience of having the responsibility of a paying job, with co-workers depending on you as well as bosses and supervisors expecting things of you in exchange for your salary. In my opinion, a summer job is the best thing you could possibly do in between school years. You'll earn extra money and learn how to work with other people in a busy (often hectic) environment. The presence and schedule of a job make your down time in the summer all the more valuable and sweet. Something else, too — you'll gain a new sense of confidence that you will likely not have felt or known before.
The ability and accomplishment to get through a summer job and to do it well can change you in ways you'd never expect. The camaraderie that develops between coworkers is something you never forget and would never trade for anything in the world — not for any amount of relaxation or down time.
