It’s almost August. In the blink of an eye, summer will be gone. I never thought summer would go by so fast. I think this is my first summer where the days felt like minutes (and, this makes me very anxious).
Like everyone else, I really wanted to have a happy, stress-free, hanging-with-my-friends-or-watching-tv-all-day kind of summer. But, I’m happy that I didn’t. Some people need structure in their lives and I think I might fall into that category. I’m very grateful to say that I was able to do research with a professor in the mathematics department at my school.
I got to stay on campus for the summer. I didn’t really get a chance to spend time with my family but I really enjoyed living independently all year long. I think I’ve grown in so many ways. Who knew that grocery shopping and paying rent would change me into behaving like a real adult?
Back to a summer job. My advice is to get one. Some people think summer jobs are mindless. In fact, they can turn into a smart career move and really help a student decide what they want to do in the future. So, not everyone can get a job shadowing a doctor or working at a camp, but don’t be ashamed of whatever job you get. Any place can be a networking opportunity. For instance, a friend of mine got a job at a law firm by picking up a quarter someone dropped near the entrance of Macy’s. A job is a job and you are working to earn your money.
If you can’t find a job taking summer classes can also be helpful. This will help you high school student adjust to college easier. You get a preview of what to expect. There are lots of sleepover programs at colleges but usually the applications come out in March. Either way, main message: do something productive during the summer but make sure you still have a fun summer.