Do’s and Don’ts for your summer vacation

This archived article was written by: Scott Froehlich

Now that finals week is over, and college students can breathe a collective sigh of relief, summer break is finally here. These vacations are a great chance for students to unwind, visit family and friends and forget all about school. The one thing that gets lost in the summertime, however, is preparation for the fall semester. While it’s important to recharge and let loose over the break, here’s some do’s and don’ts for your time between terms.

Do: Get a summer job/internship. The summertime is the best opportunity for you to make some extra money and get valuable work experience without having to juggle both work and school. If you don’t want to flip burgers or bag groceries, try to intern or volunteer as these will look good on your transcript and resume.

Don’t: Sit in your room playing video games all summer. It is important to be at least a little active while on vacation. You don’t want to put on five pounds and numb your mind beating your top score on Call of Duty.

Do: Enjoy yourself. You’ve worked hard all semester long, you deserve the break and should take advantage of every opportunity to celebrate your accomplishment. Go swimming, hang out with family and friends at the movies or find adventures that you’d otherwise miss out on during the school year.

Don’t: Party too hard. While most people will have a relatively low-key and less-than-exciting vacation, it’s still important to take your foot off the gas and monitor how much you’re getting “turnt.”

Do: Stay healthy and safe. This is going to sound like a parent preaching, but it’s a very crucial aspect of this list. Keep yourself hydrated and slather on the sunscreen whenever you go outside. Any time you go out at night be sure to be aware of your surroundings and use the buddy system if you are going somewhere foreign, or otherwise unfamiliar to you.

Don’t: Avoid your family. You’re parents have gone months without seeing you and have invested their time and money in your education, so the least you can do is spend some time with them.

Do: Try to read at least one book. Even though you just finished a grueling spring semester, you still have to ready yourself for the upcoming fall. If you keep your mind somewhat stimulated with a good book, you won’t have as hard of a time getting back into learning mode come August.

Don’t: Let the summer pass you by. Just like the the second tip, your break is there for you to get out there and seize the moment.
Overall, the time out of school is yours and you can do with it what you wish. Just remember though, after the dog days of summer are over, the next break from school isn’t until October. So get off the computer or phone, get out there, and make some memories!