With summer right around the corner, you are probably looking forward to not just hours, but days and weeks, even, of having nothing to do but binge-watch your favorite Netflix series. While that’s all great and I’m looking forward to it too, you can be productive and teach yourself something new in between said Netflix episodes.
- A foreign language
While this is definitely a tall order, and not something you can master in just one summer, you can start with the basics. I personally would love to learn French and as it doesn’t seem like I’m going to be taking introductory classes in college, I want to try to learn it on my own. Not everyone will be interested, and you should only do this if you really care about it. For those of you who are interested in attempting it, resources such as Rosetta Stone and Duolingo are great places to start.
- Calligraphy
Again, this is one of those things that might not interest everybody. However, if you have always wanted to be able to write fancy cards for your friends, admire script handwriting, or just want to be able to decorate your room with a handwritten quote, this might be fun to learn. Start with YouTube tutorials and consider scoping out your local library for some books and how to guides if you want to really try it.
- Crocheting
No, this is hobby doesn’t just apply to grandmas. Crocheting can be really cool and relaxing, since it’s very repetitive once you get the hang of it. I personally really enjoy the feeling of the thread and the way it takes my mind off things. After years of crocheting, I find it doesn’t take much brainpower or concentration and can be a simple way to unwind, especially after finals end. For the beginner, however, it is best to start with videos and experimenting. Once you get good at it, you can make some really cool things!
- Writing with your non-dominant hand
I’ve been fascinated with the idea of being ambidextrous and I think it would be really useful. What if you hurt your dominant hand? At least you would still be able to function if the other one could write as well. This is something really specific and strange, but it is definitely worth an attempt. Just search up tutorials online, there’s a lot of information on the Internet about this.
- CPR and First Aid
So maybe you can’t teach yourself this one, but you can take a course with your local FEMA or Red Cross. CPR is an important survival skill, and you could always use basic first aid knowledge. A CPR certification course will provide you with the ability to perform CPR. This is especially useful if you are not a nursing/pre-med student, because everyone should be able to help themselves, since these are things that you don’t want to have to wait for professional help for.
- How to use Excel
If you are not already familiar with Excel, this is a must have skill. Many, if not most, jobs ask for familiarity with Excel and it will come in handy no matter what your major or career path is. So many jobs and internships list Excel as a prerequisite that you would do yourself a disservice by not learning it. You can take a course, hosted by either public or private institutions around your home, or get an Excel for Dummies book. Trust me, it will pay off.
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