Summer Isn't All Fun And Games For The Overachieving College Student

For as long as I can remember I have been the type of person who can't just sit still and not do anything. For that reason instead of spending my summers just relaxing and having fun, I use them to make money and now to get ahead in school.

When I turned 14, I started working during the summer. Back then I could only work 20 hours a week, but as I got older I was gradually able to work more and more hours. Now, being 19 I can work as many hours as I want and my boss will let me. Usually, I end up working around 40 hours per week.

Working so much allows me to make money, not only so I can buy things I want without having to ask my parents for them, but also so I can save for school, sorority fees, and just save in general.

When I first started working my parents made me put half of my paychecks into a savings account. At first, I hated that they made me do that, but now that I have had extra money to fall back on during my first year of college I am extremely thankful for it.

This summer I am also going to be focusing a little bit on my education as well as working. In order to get a little bit ahead and save money, I am choosing to take a class online through a community college. This way I can work on my assignments and lessons on my own schedule and am still able to work the hours I need to make money.

All of this doesn't mean I still don't plan on having fun during the summer though. I still plan on hanging out with my friends and my boyfriend, enjoying the sun at the lake, and going up to visit my sisters who live a couple hours away from me.

Some people can spend their whole summer going on trips and doing fun things without working or doing anything productive, but I can't. If I don't keep myself busy I feel like I'm not being productive enough and feel like I am waisting my summer. That is why I choose to do so much in my summers that will help me rather than do stuff that will be more fun.