As I sit in a heaping pile of books, notes, and index cards preparing for finals, there is only one thing on my mind. Â Say it with me: Â summer. Â The light at the end of the tunnel. Â Three gloriously long months without the stress of studying and writing papers. Â A much-needed break from hours spent in Bapst on sunny weekends.
It’s so hard to focus while studying in my dorm when I know beautiful beaches and summer nights are in my future.
I know I should be complaining about how I don’t want to go home yet, how I don’t want to leave all of my BC friends, and how I’m going to miss the Heights.  Even though all of these sentiments ring true for me, the second it becomes finals and study days, all I can think about is getting out of here.  I get overwhelmed by final exams and I hate packing up all of my stuff for storage over the summer (I live on the West Coast, which is the best coast).  The only thing that gets me through is daydreaming about how I’m going to spend my summer days.
Every time I go home, I allow myself one full of week of laziness.  I fully embrace post-finals syndrome, where my brain is exhausted and I’m mentally drained. This week entails sleeping in until the sunlight wakes me up naturally, lounging on the couch watching TV, and occassionally getting up to walk to the kitchen. If I change out of my pajamas, it’s only to put sweats on.  Sounds amazing, right?
However, these lazy days should only last as long as my jet lag. Since I am a collegiette™ from BC, naturally, I like to be productive.  This means my idleness and inactivity is only temporary.  Once I have adjusted to the time zone difference, it’ll be time to start setting my alarm clock once again.  For those of you wondering how to effectively use your time this summer, here’s a list of productive summer activities.
1. Â Make money or gain experience (or both!)
Whether you landed an awesome internship with a Fortune 500 company, or will once again be an over-educated grocery bagger, you should be working in some capacity this summer.  Adding tangible work experience to complement your degree will help your job search after graduation. You’ll gain more experience in the workforce, but also help your savings account if you’re getting paid.  Even if your job does not directly relate to your desired career, you can learn important lessons; any type of experience is beneficial.  If you’re working in a customer service position, at the very least, you’ll learn how to kindly treat workers based on how you were treated.  And if you secured an exciting internship (congrats!), make sure to check out our advice on what not to do!
2. Â Volunteer
BC isn’t teaching us to be “women for others” just during the academic year!  We should continue striving for social justice while we’re home. Whether it’s your time, your talents, or your money, use what you have to help others. You can return to your old communities or find new local organizations to work with.  Maybe spend a Saturday working in a food shelter or help pick up trash at a park.  If you like participating in BC’s blood drives, you can continue donating blood at a nearby Red Cross.
Going to Sounders soccer games is the perfect way to reconnect with friends and family in Seattle. They last a couple hours, so we time to talk about everything.
3. Â Reconnect with friends and family
This is a big one. It’s important to see people you missed while at school and catch up.  You can get lunch with your high school friends at your favorite spot, or plan a dinner for your extended family. I love hearing about campus life from my friends because we all go to different schools.  Learning about the different traditions, cities, and cultures of your friends’ schools helps expand your horizons. And make sure you tell them all about BC, too – from the Superfans to the “Piano Man” in Eagle’s Nest!
4. Â Read a book (at least one!)
Call me crazy, but I love reading for pleasure.  For me, summer means going to Barnes & Noble for a couple of hours and leaving with a handful of crisp, new books!  I get so frustrated during the school year when I don’t have time to read. On the flight to Boston at the beginning of the spring semester, I started The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. It’s only 163 pages, but I still haven’t finished it!  Ever since the five-hour flight in January, I haven’t had any time this semester to continue it!  I plan on re-reading the book on my flight home, in hopes of finally finishing it.  It doesn’t matter if you’re reading Pulitzer Prize winners or trashy beach reads, but do pick up a book this summer.  If you need suggestions, you should read books that will be on the big screen this summer!
5. Â Learn to cook
If you’ll be living off-campus or have a kitchen in your suite next year, take the time this summer to learn how to cook.  Otherwise, you’ll be living off cereal, mac and cheese, and PB&Js all year!  Buy an interesting cookbook or ask the chef in your house to give you a few lessons in the kitchen. I know I’m going to try helping my mom make dinner, rather than just waiting to eat it.  And in preparation for my Mod senior year (fingers crossed!), I’m going to have my dad teach me how to grill.
Next September, you can navigate through this mess straight to the tables you want to sign up with.
6. Â Prepare for next year
You’ve got a lot of free time on your hands this summer, so take advantage by planning things for next year.  Rather than wait to be attacked on Student Activities Day, you can check out interesting clubs and organizations online that you might want to get involved with.  If you’re an underclassman, you can look up study abroad opportunities.  The process can be really overwhelming during the academic year, trying to look up different schools while maintaining your GPA, so do it calmly this summer.  You can also browse course evaluations and PEPs for classes you might want to take in the future. I know I’ll be making arrangements to road trip to Notre Dame with my friends in the fall!
7. Â Create/update your resume
Again, use this extra time while you have it!  Don’t wait until the crazy internship scramble next February to work on your resume.  If you’ve never made one, now is the time to open Microsoft Word and list your past schools and work experience. If you do have a resume but it has an old GPA listed or is missing new employers, now is the time to dust it off.  You can also start looking up employers you want to work for or companies you want to follow.
8. Â Stay active
Picture going to a gym and not having to wait in line for a machine… No, I’m not describing a made-up fantasy, I’m talking about every other gym besides the Plex!  Now you have no excuse to complain about no time in the day to exercise.  Go to a local gym or sweat outside multiple times a week this summer.  There are so many ways to shed that winter weight – run around a nearby lake, go swimming with friends, try yoga, or hike a trail.  My personal favorite is riding my bike in the company of my iPod or a friend.  It’s the best way to spend a sunny summer day!
9. Â Expand your wardrobe
Alright collegiettes™, you’ve worn that top out three times this semester… and every single one of your friends has worn it out as well! It’s time for everyone to split up and attack their respective malls, outlets, and boutiques!  Time to update the closet and find some cute new looks for next year. When you come back to campus, you won’t have to bother with the dreaded “What am I going to wear tonight?” because you’ll have new outfits purchased throughout the summer.
I can’t wait to revisit all of my favorite spots in Seattle, especially the Pike Place Market. It’s so fun to walk around and look at all the vendors.
10. Â Have fun!
I know you’ll be missing BC everyday, but take time this summer to enjoy yourself!  Explore your city, go golfing, visit the aquarium, learn how to bartend, try a new restaurant!  There’s so much you can do in three months, like learn a new language, start watching a new TV show, go camping, go kayaking, go on a road trip, watch the sunset. I’m looking forward to food and music festivals at home, going canoeing, having bonfires, and enjoying picnics.  Instead of looking at pictures on Facebook of all your friends’ exciting summers, make some memories of your own!
Best of luck on your final exams and papers, BC collegiettes™!  Work hard this last week, enjoy your post-finals lazy week, and then get going on a productive summer!