Summer vacation is definitely a time for any college student to kick up their feet and relax. After two long semesters of exams, work, and stress, a break seems like it is long overdue. There are no arguments that one deserves a long and relaxing break when a lot of hard work has been done for weeks and months on end. However, though it may be tempting to just relax and do nothing for the entire summer while you are in college, summers can actually be just as important as the rest of the school year. There are a lot of things that can be done within those few summer months and there are definitely ways to make the most out of your college summer break.

One definite way to max-out your summer vacation is to look at your workload for the upcoming semesters. In an ideal world, students should have a nice workload that doesn't cause too much stress. However, that isn't always the case and students may have schedules that look like they have been crafted by Satan himself.

There are ways to go around this system. If there is a class that looks like it can give you a lot of work or stress in the fall, it may be a good idea to knock it out over the summer instead. However, you could also look at summer classes from the other way as well; if there are classes that seem easy, you might want to knock them out during the summer so you don't have to stress during the fall or spring. Summer classes are a great way to balance out your schedule and keep you from too much stress.

Another thing to do during your summer vacation is to look for jobs that either helps you succeed or help you further along your desired career. Money is always a nice thing to have around and a summer job is a perfect way to earn some extra cash. Whether it is for classes in the fall or textbooks, some extra money from a summer job can be very helpful. However, a job just doesn't have to be something random.

In fact, you can find a job that you think helps correlate directly with your chosen career. For example, I am hoping to go into the movie or cartoon business and I have chosen to work at a movie theater during the summer. Though it may seem like these two do not connect as much, I think it is important that you understand how the business you are going into functions from top to bottom. Overall, a summer job can give you both extra money and some good experience.

However, a job isn't the only way one can have a very worthwhile summer vacation; in fact, one can also look into possible internships or volunteer programs as well. When you are going into the career world, it is very important that you learn how to network and make connections with other people.

By looking into volunteer programs and internships, you are able to do just that. Not only do you gain great experience in your chosen career field, you can gain valuable contact that can help you later on in life. Summer is the perfect time to spend either volunteering or interning.

Though these are all great suggestions to maximize your summer experience, it is important to remember that summer is a time for relaxation as well. Don't forget to spend some time visiting friends, reading a nice book, watching a movie, or doing whatever relaxes you. Overall, a great summer is one that is both relaxing and is beneficial.