Summertime, and the Living's Easy

The sultry summer months are here and while it may be tempting to laze around, many students are beating the summertime blues by taking advantage of their free time. Whether they are hunting for a part-time job or plumping up their resumes, these months of sunshine skies are beneficial to many.

I personally have used my four summers of collegiate time to take classes at my university and increase my time at a part-time job. I have found that the pace of summer classes is ideal to my personality, as the schedule allows for more information compacted into fewer class meetings. In addition, the extra time not spent in the classroom permits me to work more and earn higher wages.

Another benefit I've seen from planning my summers out carefully is the opportunity to study abroad. While I only spent three weeks out of the States, I was very lucky to take two courses for my degree and see the Irish countryside. The trip would not have been possible without some research about what my school was able to offer during the summer.

No matter what you choose to do with your summer months, it is always important to remember that the time is fleeting. Unless you plan to stay a student forever or are working within the education system, you will probably not get a solid three months off during the rest of your life. So use the time wisely but soak it up while you can!

Labels: summer classes, summer jobs

Posted by Amanda on 8/20/2009 08:58:00 PM
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(100, Give or Take) Days of Summer

Unless you're absolutely starved for cash, the monetary incentive of a summer job is one of the worst reasons to pick one up. Experience, even unpaid, in a field relevant to your major or interests will almost always prove more gainful than three months worth of folding shirts or kneading dough, as tempting as the wages may be. You could spend the summer volunteering, seeing the world, or even getting a few electives out of the way -- the possibilities are endless, and though not all of them will turn out a fat paycheck now, they'll lead you to a much, much fatter one in the future. A few new outfits or a faster laptop would be nice, but the skills, knowledge, and connections you can acquire by avoiding the allure of a mindless McJob are priceless. Summers are a precious commodity -- the average American only gets to see about seventy-five of them. Make the next few count.

Labels: internships, summer classes, summer job, volunteering

Posted by Brian on 8/09/2009 10:51:00 PM
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