Are you turned off by the idea of spending another summer hanging by the pool or partying away your brain cells? Many college students spend the summer months stuck in classes and libraries just as they would any other season of the year. Others slack off and accomplish nothing during the summer. If you don’t find either of those options appealing, there are many things you can do to make the most of your summer.
Boost Your Resume with an Internship
Internships give you experience in your chosen career field and look great on your resume. In some cases, your internship can count as job experience once you graduate. The downside is that you may end up working long hours for little or no pay. You also need to start applying for internships early, since the best positions are highly competitive and require interviews.
You can look for internships near your university, in your hometown, or in a completely different location if you need a change of scenery. There are even some internship programs that allow you to live in Washington D.C. while working with government agencies or companies located in the capital.
Earn Money and Save Up
If you decide to get a paying job during the summer, commit to working as much as possible and saving the money. If you blow every paycheck as it is earned, you will have little to show for your hard work when the summer is over. One of the best ways to save money is to get yourself an inexpensive food vacuum sealer. Buy food in bulk (especially meats since they tend to be more expensive) when it goes on sale and vacuum seal the food to keep it fresh for months on end. Another way you can keep foods from going bad is to dehydrate them with a food dehydrator.
So commit to living frugally until you’ve built yourself a decent-sized nest egg, so that you can live comfortably when you get back to the classroom.
Study or Volunteer Abroad
There are many programs that allow college students to study or complete volunteer work abroad. You get to visit a foreign country, learn a new language and immerse yourself in a new culture. You also get to meet other students from around the world and add a unique experience to your resume.
Volunteer programs are incredibly rewarding because they allow you to see some of the impoverished regions of the world and help people in their daily lives. Study programs are typically based on language classes or very specific fields of study, and space is sometimes limited. Apply to these programs early so that you can prepare for the trip if you are accepted.
Travel and Serve the Community
If you don’t want to leave the country, there are some national programs that allow college students to volunteer their time without leaving their own country. These trips still allow you to volunteer your time helping others, and you still gain something new for your resume. Some of these programs are conducted by charities associated with particular religions while others are unaffiliated with religious groups.
For instance, you may choose to travel with the youth group at your church or to join an unaffiliated group that connects college students with charities throughout the country. Think about what type of work you will do on different trips and how those experiences may help you land a job when you graduate.
Create Your Own Local Service Project
When all else fails, create a productive opportunity for yourself and other local college students. You can create a service project that keeps you entertained, benefits your community and adds to your resume. Anything from starting your own online business to cleaning up a local park can help you pass the summer months with a huge boost to your pride. Get creative and see what you can dream up.
Whatever you decide to do this summer, make sure to spend some time lounging by the pool or bonding with friends. While you want to boost your resume and contribute to your community, it is also important to enjoy life before you are strapped down with responsibilities beyond college.
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