My Intricate Feelings About Going Home for the Summer

I had no clue what I would title this article. 

Why, you may ask? Because I couldn’t think of an effective title that truly relays the point of this piece. My intricate feelings about going home for the summer have absolutely nothing to do with my home situation or hometown. When I go back home, I will be going home to the two people I love more than anyone else in the world, my parents. My mother in particular is my best friend and there is no one I would rather be around. So, what am I going on about? 

I am someone who loves to be involved in school organizations and my surrounding area. I am the complete opposite of a homebody- I like being out as much as possible. I have established a routine during my first year in college; one where I am either doing homework, volunteering at events, going to club meetings, hanging out with friends, being involved in the Church, etc. Although some of these activities can get tiresome after a while, they make me feel like I am working towards something. Therefore, I am excited to explore new opportunities that will arise in the next semester. 

As I mentioned, I am more than blessed to have the living situation I do and to have fun activities planned for the summer, and so this article is not at all about me complaining. My point is that I have conflicting feelings over putting this routine on pause for three months. Life on campus, where I am independent and all the weight in the world feels like it’s on my shoulders, versus life at home where I have people around me who help me hold this weight are so different. And considering that I have lived in the former for the past 8-9 months for the first time ever, I’m curious as to how the next three months will play out. 

During winter break, I googled some articles surrounding this topic, and realized that I am not the only one who feels this way. So, I thought it would be helpful to offer some advice I am going to follow so that life does not feel like it has reached a three month pause. 

Take Summer Classes 

Remember in middle/ high school when summer would end, the new semester started, and you had absolutely no motivation to go back to doing work? Well, college summers are even longer, and the shock is even more electrifying than the one you got during secondary school. When I first started university, the idea of taking classes in the summer was a big no. However, as I continued to think about it, I realized that I could still have an enjoyable summer while progressing in my degree.

Volunteer

here are so many benefits to volunteerism. Not only is there the obvious effect of helping others, but there are also personal benefits. Particularly for those like me who have never had a paid job, volunteering prepares you for settings in which you will have to cooperate with others to reach a common goal. In addition, volunteer work can usually always go on a resume! Also, volunteering can foster a meaningful community that can go a long way with those you work with!

Work/ Intern 

I think the benefits of these two are pretty clear. Working and interning not only give you a look into the professional world but can also come with monetary benefits. And while it may be hard to find a summer job related to your major, there are many summer internships related to college students’ career aspirations.

Learn a New Skill 

This one can be interpreted in numerous ways. For me, I want to develop some computer/ tech skills over the summer. However, learning a new skill can mean learning a new language, learning content from a class you’re taking in the fall that is known to be difficult (SHOUTOUT TO MY ORGO PPL LOL I COULD NEVER), and more!

Before I end off this piece, I want to give the disclaimer that I am not trying to emphasize harmful productivity culture or the idea that you must do something over the summer to be a productive person at all!!! There are some people, like me, who get bored extremely easily. On the flip side, some of the most academically ambitious people I know are doing none of the above. This article also goes out to the people who don’t have such a great living situation and who want to find ways to escape that toxicity. If these activities do not allow for rest and if you feel no excitement from doing them, they should not be done. 

Have a great summer, babes! 

As always, 

XOXO, Sasha

• home
• intern
• new skills
• productivity
• volunteer