Being a junior in college at the moment, I know what it’s like to feel this somewhat pressure to buckle-down and find a summer internship before going into your senior year. Society can almost make you feel like your post-grad life depends on it, because after all, without an internship you can just kiss your future employment after college good-bye…which seems majorly harsh to me. I am all for getting as much experience as possible for your future career path, but I wanted to give all of you who may not be interning somewhere for the summer some positive vibes and reasons why it will still be the best summer ever, and ultimately…NOT TO FREAK OUT!
1. You are still young and figuring yourself out.
You should not feel too discouraged if you did not sign up to work 40+ hours a week this summer, especially if you are still trying to figure out which path you want to take in your career. Because what is worse than taking an internship that is sort-of what you want to do and working yourself into the ground doing it. Summer is the best time to really evaluate all that you want to accomplish going into your senior year of college (which is a concept I’m still not over).
2. Even if it is not an “internship”, you can still find summer work in your particular field.
Working in PR? Ask a boutique or a small business if you can help with some of their personal promotion or social media accounts. Something so easy, yet still qualifies to be put on your resume. Whatever your major may be, check with a company in your line of interest and see if they need any extra help or if you could shadow in their office a couple days a week to get some experience.
3. Be able to take trips and see all you want too.
Before the looming debt of the four years you spent here at ISU comes rolling in, take advantage of your free summer to see all you want to see. Plan a road trip, visit an exciting city for the weekend, go and see your friends that may be in a different city for an internship. Enjoy yourself, because you will never be this young again.
4. Take advantage of your real “last summer”.Whether we like to admit it or not, our carefree summer days are fleeting, so take advantage of it! Spend some time with your parents and some of those distant high school friends that you have been wanting to catch up with. Soak it all up, sit on your deck with your parents and pets, and enjoy the free room and board while you can.
5. All of your internship research this year can carry over to next year.
If you did a lot of research for internships this year, you have a good idea of where you will want to apply when next year rolls around. A lot of the companies will have the same opportunities this time next year.
Enjoy your summer Redbirds! See you in the fall. XO