Being a College Student: Summer Edition
Being a student during the regular school year is difficult enough. Between managing your time as a student, a work schedule, and possibly an internship, it is easy to see how overwhelming it can get. As a student during typical school months, it at times can feel semi-easier in having access to student support services and the general atmosphere of other people working around you. However, during the summer months, it may seem easier to take a break rather than focusing on your studies and furthering your potential career. Here are a few tips and tricks to put into practice in order to stay on top of your summer vacation while “on” for school.
Set Summer Goals
Creating an itemized list of tasks you would like to accomplish and goals of why you would like to achieve them helps to hold yourself accountable. It is easy to say all of the things that you would like to accomplish throughout the “off” summer months, however, you need a way to ensure your goals in order to continue to grow within your major outside of regular school months. Create a Google Doc, a Word Doc, journal entry, or even a sticky note. Itemize your tasks and make them achievable!
Make a Plan
I find it difficult to stay on top of my summer goals as I have found that I may set those goals, but have a hard time implementing my tasks to reach them. Creating a written tactile plan that you are able to reference works wonders. Create a plan in a way that you know you will receive, understand, and execute. It does not matter the way in which you illustrate your plan, as long as you use SMART goals that work to achieve the summer that you want to have.
Participate in Summer Events
Summer events and opportunities such as; volunteering events, summer internships, online training etc. Summer enrichment opportunities are offered at various scales and will allow you to put your classes' teachings into practice. Learning about your major is a muscle that you have to continue to work and exercise throughout the school year as well as the summer. Continue to exercise the things that you learn about your major like the muscle that learning is.
Utilize Student Support
Many of the student support systems and programs that college campus’ offer are made available through the summer as well as the school year. Using resources like the Counseling Center, Disability Support Resources, Financial Aid, and Replenish are still available throughout the summer months. Utilizing student support not only aids you in your summer tasks and goals, it allows you to practice taking care of your mental and physical health throughout the summer months in preparation for the regular school year.
Use your school learnings and teachings to create the summer that you not only want for your career advancements, but need in order to have the summer “on” that you deserve.
About Lauren
Lauren Stitt is a junior studying Advertising & Public Relations with an emphasis in public relations. Lauren previously held the position of Firm Editor with GrandPR and will now serve as the COO (Chief Operations Officer) for her second year with the firm. Lauren will begin her first public relations internship this Fall '21 and hopes to graduate and start working within the creative aspects of the public relations field.