Home Stretch

As we stand at the end of the semester with only 2 weeks of instruction left and 1 week of finals after that, we can now focus our attention on our summers and the next semester. Summer means many different things for all of us. Summer can mean; more time at work to make more money, summer courses, vacation/travel, relaxing at home, and internships. So, what is a good way to spend your summer? Unfortunately, the answer is usually not, “Do nothing.”

Depending on where you are in life and in school, there are optimal ways to spend your summer. For instance, if, like me, you dropped a course over the semester due to overload syndrome, then summer is time to take that course and make sure I (you) graduate on time. How about if you’re a senior getting ready to graduate? Then you have a whole host of options. You can take a gap year before any type of professional or graduate education where you work, relax, study, travel, or complete research. If you are just arriving to the Universities at Shady Grove, maybe it’s best to familiarize yourself more with the resources offered here. Reflecting on your past semester is a good way for all of us to spend our summer. We can learn from our mistakes and see what worked for us, and what didn’t.

Volunteering is another popular and beneficial option for this summer. Volunteering in different fields can teach you a lot about an area of study and whether it’s for you or not. Volunteering can also strengthen your resume and give you lots to talk about when those professional school interviews come around. Also, volunteering at a location where you have fun is always an option. Helping others is never a bad way to spend your time.