The much-awaited summer break brings to mind endless days of lounging around, napping and travelling to far-off places worth a snap or two. After gruelling months of taking hour-long exams and burning the midnight oil, it’s finally time to kick back, relax, and reward yourself by doing the things you’ve always wanted to do. College can eat up a lot of your time, so your summer break should serve as a chance to pursue activities you previously couldn’t fit into your busy schedule.
Regardless of whether you gravitate towards new experiences or your usual summer activities, the most important thing is that you get to maximise your time doing what makes you feel the most fulfilled. To help you decide how your summer will go, here are some activities that could make your break more fun, enriching and memorable.
Boost Your Professional Calibre
No matter how well you perform academically, there is still a chance that you will end up feeling lost once you’re out in the “real world.” If you want to familiarise yourself with the ins and outs of the industry you intend to join, you can sign up for a summer programme related to your field. For instance, you can ask around your school for opportunities such as internships, fieldwork or international exchange programmes to broaden your industry exposure. Opting for such opportunities is a great way to improve transferable skills such as time management, organisation and communication, which will be highly valuable at school as well as at your future place of employment.
If you live in Singapore, you can also apply for SkillsFuture credit courses that allow you to get comprehensive training in your chosen field. At the end of the programme, you can get certified for your newly acquired skill set and have the advantage of securing employment more easily after graduation. On top of that, programmes such as these give you the chance to sharpen job application skills such as crafting your resume, answering interviews, writing cover letters, putting together a portfolio and upgrading your professional profile.
Get Busy with a Summer Job or Business
If you’re looking to make some extra income, you can get a part-time job while you’re free from schoolwork. Working at establishments such as your local restaurant, bookstore or boutique is a great way to make money on the side and gain exposure to environments outside of your field.
On the other hand, you can develop your entrepreneurship skills and use this time to start a business. If you have an artistic streak, you can create your own crafts, clothing and accessories to sell online. Or, if you prefer to provide services, you can start businesses based on other skills you already have. For example, you can offer proofreading or video editing services to your classmates and friends. If you’re good with kids or animals, you can start a babysitting or pet-sitting service. Starting a business enables you to hone the skills you’re already good at, but more than that, you also get to earn and potentially generate a sustainable income.
Volunteer at an Organisation
If you’re passionate about a cause, you can put your summer break to good use by participating in a volunteer programme. As a volunteer, you can help out your organisation of choice during events such as festivals, charity runs, educational outreach programmes and other community activities.
By volunteering for such efforts, you get to use your skills for meaningful activities intended for the common good. Aside from that, including volunteer work as part of your professional experience is likely to set you apart from other job candidates and make your resume a bit more impressive.
Learn New Skills
Being focused on your academic work can leave you with no time to learn for the sake of learning. This summer, consider learning a new skill. You can learn a new language, study the basics of a new instrument or explore the beauty of gardening right from your own backyard. Whichever area you choose to study, you can enjoy it more fully and give it your full attention during your break.
Prepare for Graduate Admissions Tests
You’ve already hurdled the admissions test for your institution, so now it’s time to take it further and prepare for the next chapter of your academic career. If you’re planning to pursue graduate school, you can use your free time to brush up on your past lessons ahead of test season. The mind is a muscle, and it takes more than just cramming to retain the information overload you might have experienced over the past few semesters. If you believe that getting a master’s degree or going to law school is on your post-graduate horizon, you can start preparing as early as now so you will know the lessons like the back of your hand.
Start a Passion Project
Do you have a pet project that you keep putting off because of schoolwork? Now’s your chance to be rid of all distractions and focus on turning your vision into a reality. Whether it’s an artistic feat such as a short film or a technical endeavour like a video game, doing a passion project is a great way to immerse yourself in the act of creation without expecting anything in return. A common passion project is improving the garden, of either your home or perhaps your parents – this could also make a great thank you for their support! You could create a small vegetable patch, or put up a new shed. It’s very affordable to rent a dumpster for outdoor projects for just a day so even if you wanted to just tidy the garden up and remove any old waste or broken items, this can be a great way to connect with nature and engage in a fun activity. As long as you have dedication throughout the process, it’s always a good use of your time to create something you can be proud of. That said, you can also include your passion project in your professional portfolio if your output manages to perfectly showcase your skills and knowledge.
Unwind
It probably goes without saying, but sometimes the most rewarding thing you can do with your time is nothing at all. College can be stressful and leave you too exhausted to function properly. To replenish your energy and promote your well-being, consider spending your summer catching up on sleep, hanging out with loved ones or doing entertaining activities such as reading or watching movies. If you can, spend a few days by the beach or in the mountains for a change of scenery.Don’t forget to pamper yourself as well. Those late nights staying up and studying, will have made you neglect parts of yourself. Having enough rest is sure to help you regain your focus and stamina once it’s time to go back to school. Remember, you shouldn’t feel guilty about resting if it’s for your well-being.
