At a school like Columbia, being the only one without an internship can make you feel like your lightyears behind your classmates, who probably started locking down summer positions way back in January. Between the suitemate who’s interning with Homeland Security and that one kid in your Lit Hum class who’s spending the summer at JP Morgan, you can’t help but feel like you should be doing a prestigious internship this summer as well. Internships are a great way to gain experience, but there’s no need to stress yourself out if you can’t find one–summer is only time of the year when you should be able to completely chill out. Even if you don’t have an internship, don’t think your summer is lost: there are plenty of worthwhile things that you can do this summer. Here’s a list of things you can do to make the most of your break:
For the Do-Gooders – Volunteer!
Volunteering is a sure way to make an impact in your local community or even the world. If you love helping those in need there are plenty of volunteering opportunities available. If you live the New York City or find yourself staying here over the summer, New York Cares is the perfect organization to search for volunteering positions. If you going back home, try asking your library or local summer camp organizations if they are looking for people to help out. Chances are, they won’t say no! Most libraries often look for volunteers to help their in the children’s reading room. And if you’re feeling really adventurous, you may even want to travel abroad and do community service overseas. The bottom line is volunteering is a great way to spend your summer. It not only benefits those who you are helping but will knowing that you made a difference in the lives of other will ultimately make you feel good.
For the Globetrotters – Travel!
Who wouldn’t love spending their summer vacation in another country? After an entire year of studying, a vacation is well deserved. Try traveling to a country that you’ve never been to so that you’ll have the opportunity to discover new things. Maybe go Brazil and visit the dense and mysterious Amazon Rain Forest, or go to Greece where you can see for yourself the fabulous settings in which many books from Lit Hum took place. Or maybe, you just want to go to an island in the Caribbean to unwind and soak up some sun. There are many places to travel to and, you definitely won’t be bored.
For the Extra-Studious – Learn!
You may realize, as you check your final grade, that you didn’t really understand what was going on in your Gen Chem class, and decide that you want to take a class over the summer to help you grasp the concepts more. Or maybe you realize that you want to brush up on your language skills before taking intermediate French next semester. If you’re one of those students who doesn’t mind having to do more school work then, this option is for you. You can take classes here at Columbia or you can enroll in a local college back at home. Perhaps you don’t want to take a formal class, and individualized tutoring would be better. Either way, you’ll be able to keep your brain sharp for next semester and be prepared for those upper level courses.
For the Money Makers – Work!
If you’re at the point in life where you want to stop living off your parents’ money or just want some extra cash, get a job! It doesn’t have to be something ridiculous. You could try finding a job at your favorite clothing store. Most stores give employee discounts and if you shop there often those discounts will come in handy. You can even start your business providing tutoring and test prep for students. Working will keep you busy all summer long and you’ll be feel great knowing that you’re spending your own, hard earned money.
For Everyone Else – Relax!
There’s nothing wrong with taking this summer off and just relaxing at home. You’ll be able to catch up with family and friends, lounge around, and just enjoy not having to write papers or cram for a midterm. You’ve spent a the last few months doing nothing but schoolwork and it’s okay if you want to just stay at home and watch Pretty Little Liars with your little sister. Other people might be doing these crazy adventurous and ambitions things but that doesn’t mean you have to. Enjoying quality time at home with your family is relatively low stress and is a breath of fresh air after spending a year at Columbia. You have the time to do anything you want. You can help your parents out in the kitchen and learn to cook. You can grab your old high school friends and take a hip hop dance class. Take advantage of the next three months that you have and just enjoy life at home.
So there you have it, Columbia! It’s hard to believe a year has passed and that summer is almost here. Whether you’re a freshman trying to figure out what you want to do or a senior who just wants to try something different before transitioning to a working adult, summer has an array of opportunities waiting for you to experience. Now it’s just up to you to decide which you want to pursue!