Summer is closer than we think … A LOT closer. Spring semester is already over halfway through and it seems as if just yesterday we were in our rooms getting ready for our first game day of the season. Winter break was much needed, spring break was for the books, but now comes the most challenging break of all … summer vacation. The obvious thing is to go away for a little, but how long can we possibly be away for?
Finding something to do over the summer has to be one of the hardest challenges a college student faces, right after no meals at the house on the weekends. Most of us would rather just sit on our bums all day and do absolutely nothing — which we do, indeed, deserve after a year of tough classes and even tougher professors. Yet, the small, very faint responsible voice in the back of our heads keeps telling us we must find something to do: we have a future to work toward, we must build up our resume, and we all need to give our bank accounts a break after the rough year they've had. Sitting on our butts all day isn't going to get us anywhere, no matter how much we wish it would.
If it's your first summer as a college student, you may want to stay close to home. In that case, there's always the easier option of finding a job waiting tables, assistant coaching a summer sports team, or babysitting. Those jobs are easier to snag because they don't require much of you other than showing up and doing as you're told. The cash isn't so bad either, and it's nice to have earned some of your own money. Yet the thought of cleaning up after other people's meals, agreeing with unreasonable nagging customers, or dealing with whiny 8-year-olds may not be the ideal summer of your life.
Another easy option is to work for your parents. Many of our parents can get us, at the least, internships or jobs doing easy tasks around their office, which could also come with some perks. You have a ride to and from work every day, get paid a decent amount, and the people around the office will have to be nice to you considering your parent is their coworker, or even better, boss. Yet, in some instances, parents and the workplace don't always mix. Boundaries can be crossed when you combine the personal and the professional, especially when the personal aspect is someone as close to you as your mom or dad. College students must choose this option with careful consideration. Your worst nightmare at work may end up being the same person sitting across from you at the dinner table.
Studying abroad is one of the most unique ways any college student can spend their summer. Living in a completely different country for an extended period of time, learning about a new culture, visiting breathtaking sites, and simply exploring a new place comprises the trip of a lifetime. Many students who have studied abroad can attest to the fact that this eye-opening experience is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Yet, this experience also comes with a hefty price tag. For students who would not miss game day and formal season for the world, this is a great option for the summer if you can afford it. If not, there are always scholarships to apply for, and the essays would surely be worth a summer you will never forget.
One of the most sought after ways to spend your summer as a college student is to land the perfect internship. We are constantly told that in this day and age, jobs are increasingly hard to come by as we graduate college, but an internship could very well be our golden ticket into the real world. As hungry college students, it is a dream come true to feel like an adult in the real world, in a new city with other college students, while gaining experiences that can someday help us land us our dream job at NASA. We can Google possible internships and fill out applications until our fingers turn blue, however, these experiences are extremely difficult to get without connections. It is a rare concept that someone simply applied for an internship and got accepted with a resume and application; connections are the key in getting our eager feet somewhat into the real world. If we didn't network before deciding to take on an internship, then as irrelevant college students, we definitely need to make sure we have a plan B.
If you're really unsure of what to do but want to have the summer of your life while making some money, then being a camp counselor is definitely for you. Whether at a day camp or a sleep away camp, you essentially get paid to act like a kid with the crazy kids you are in charge of while creating the greatest bonds you will ever experience in your life. The kids look up to you as if you are their superhero, and your fellow counselors become your best friends as you all live in this little bubble of a dreamland for a few months. It is an incredible experience that will change your life as you create lasting memories with the most adorable youngsters and your fellow counselors, the people you will be calling friends for life. And as a student in Greek life, it is just a perk that meals are included so you won't feel too out of place. Just get ready to lose lots of clothing, own way too much tie-dye, and do crazy stunts you never expected.
It is important to realize that not everything is all fun and games, and sometimes that includes summer. Summer is supposed to be a break from taking classes, but if you really want to get ahead or just have absolutely nothing to do and don't want to be stuck at home watching too much Netflix, you may want to take classes over the summer. Students can either stay at school with the other studious creatures who decided to take classes or stay at home and take classes at your local college. This is a good way to catch up or get ahead with your class load while also being able to spend time with people your own age. Maybe you won't have to be that fifth-year senior afteral.
All in all, it is in the hands of each student to decide how they want to spend their summer, but just remember that summers won't make or break you. Relaxing and having fun is important for the mind, and you have four summers to gain all of the experiences you want. In the midst of running around trying to figure out your perfect summer, don't forget to breathe and take in the experiences of the current semester. We all wish we could get paid for sleeping, but we have our whole lives to work toward that goal.
