Guest Post: Five Ways To Make Your Summer Break Meaningful

Hey! I’m Val and I’ll be guest posting for Taylor today. I write over at In-Between Life, a lifestyle blog with a focus on life post-graduating (and all the ups and downs that come along with finally entering “the real world.”) I wanted to write a post that would truly help Taylor’s readers and give you all some advice, coming from someone whose gone through what many of you are going through now. College is a tough time, but can also be a very eye-opening experience.

Now is the time for you to explore all your options and figure out what you are passionate about. It helps to start trying to figure out what you want for your future while you’re still in school, rather than finally graduating and then asking yourself “now what?” Of course, that’s okay, too, and sometimes it’s the only way we truly learn—once we’re thrown in the deep end. Here are some things you can do during your summer break that will help you out in the long run.
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1. Volunteer – Volunteering not only looks good on your resume, but it can also be a truly rewarding experience. Look into different places that need volunteers. Try to pick something that sparks your interest and/or relates to what you want to do once you graduate college. It will give you a feel for the environment and if you’re not really sure what you want to do after graduating, volunteering is a great way of exploring your options.

2. Internship – Summers are all about internships and the perfect opportunity to do one because you don’t have to be stressed out with other school-related things. After you graduate, many employers look for candidates that have already done internships in their field (thus, have some experience rather than none.) An internship can be your saving grace when it comes time to finding a job. It’s also another perfect way to get a feel for what you want to do and if it’s something you’d even enjoy. If you haven’t found a summer internship yet—don’t fret! There are plenty of places that continue looking for summer interns well into June. Google is your best friend, so start your search today!

3. Travel – While I know not everyone has the means or time to travel during their summer break, it definitely is the perfect chance to visit potential cities/areas that you may want to live in or work in after you graduate. You can get a feel for the place before just blindly packing up your things and moving out there, ready to start your new life. Traveling is also a perfect way of opening yourself up to new experiences and new lifestyles, and this alone can be the inspiration you need for figuring out what you want to do with your future or what you have a passion for.

4. Get a job – During the summer, it’s easy to find a part time (or even full time) job. Waitressing, nannying, etc. Look in your local newspaper or just go store to store asking if they’re looking to hire! The sooner you do this, the better. Summer jobs are a great way to save up money (it’s never too early to start saving for those pesky student loans…) If you can find a job that relates to your major, even better. Don’t pick a stressful job, though. You still want to be able to enjoy your summer and get that relaxing break you deserve. Also, organize your budget if you do plan on working in order to save money. It’s so easy to get carried away with each paycheck and spend it on new bikinis or summer dresses, or going out with your hometown friends every night. Be smart with your money. Better learn now than later on.

5. Read – While yes, it is so tempting to just forget about all school related things during summer break, it’d be smart if you tried to get some educational reading in there. You can certainly have a summer reading list that’s for leisure purposes, but it’d also be a good idea to read a couple books that relate to your major or career options. What this will help with is not only keeping you in a good mindset once Fall semester starts (so you can get back into that studious groove sooner rather than later,) but it also gives you a chance to explore your options and be prepared for your future. There are books out there for literally every single topic or scenario, so you’re sure to find at least one book this summer that will serve as inspiration for you. If you’re feeling stuck, I recommend reading “The Happiness Project” by Gretchen Rubin.

So there you have it, my five tips for ways on making your summer break this year more meaningful! Above all else, I recommend having a worry-free summer. You can worry about your future later. Now is the time to enjoy your life and your youth. Have a fun and stress-free summer. Spend time with your friends, get out there and live new experiences. Do something crazy, something you never thought you’d do. Just live your life, because in the end everything finds a way of working itself out.

If you want more advice or are ever just looking for someone to chat with, please feel free to email me! And check out my blog for more of these types of tips and encouragement 🙂

Have a safe and happy summer break ♥︎

I hope you found these tips from Val helpful because I sure did! If you want to hear more from Val, you can find her on Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter, too.

Look out tomorrow for the ultimate blog reading list, courtesy of Vanessa. And if you have anything that might make finals more bearable (read: Starbucks gift cards, shirtless pictures of Zac Efron), send them my way.