Many of us are looking at our last summer before college graduation dead in the eye. We are brainstorming ways in which we can make the most of our last summer before we step out into the real world. Some of us are interning, traveling, or working part time. But no matter what you plan to do with your last summer as a college student, make sure it is memorable and magical.
Before we embark on the journey of paying a mortgage, work becoming our lives, and alcohol our best friend, enjoy being a semi-adult. If you are interning this summer, make the most out of the experience. Get to know the people you are working with outside of the office. Grab a bite to eat, see a new movie together, or go to a festival together. Who said that interning should just be about the work inside the office? Maybe set up an intern picnic where everyone can get to know each other. Interning for a new company is a big move in your career, There may be questions or feelings that each intern is experiencing at the same time and what better way to express those feelings than over food? When I interned at Disney, my co-cast members and I would pour out of feelings over lunch break or at a restaurant. We would laugh about our experiences and cry together as people's internships came to an end. We became like a family, dysfunctional at times, but still a family. We all still keep in touch today, including one of my managers who moved up in the company. So getting to know them outside of the office is also a great way to network.
If you are traveling this summer, indulge in as many things as you can. Wake up at 8 a.m. so you can have a full day to experience everything that the city or place has to offer. One thing I do regret while traveling was that I would wake up at noon and did not leave out until around 1 p.m. With travel time included, I would only be able to make it to one cool museum or landmark before it closed, which was usually around 6 p.m. or 7 p.m. The day is even more of a waste if you are only there for a select few days. So, create an itinerary that includes travel time and hours of operation to maximize your experience. Also, create a list of goals you want to accomplish on your trip. Whether it be trying a new food, going to a museum, or seeing a cultural parade, travel with a purpose.
If you are working this summer, gain as many applicable skills as possible. Take on new projects at work so you can stand out from the rest of your colleagues. Ask questions if you do not understand a task and always be willing to learn new things. Do not just look at it as a part-time job, but an experience that will enhance your resume and make you a well-rounded individual. While on the job, have fun but be focused. Laugh with your fellow colleagues and do not let the money make you! Go out with your co-workers after work for quick bite to eat and ask what they are doing this weekend. Maybe you guys can go to a concert together or come to each others' BBQ. Make new friends and use those discounts! One thing I learned working in retail, is that it is never to early to go Christmas shopping.
More importantly, take a lot of pictures and write a journal full of memories. When next summer after graduation is here, you will want reminders of all of the cool places you visited or people you spent time with during the summer months. Transitioning from college to the real world is a scary thought, but making the most of your last summer is crucial in surviving the transition and not looking back on your college years regretting things you did not do.
