Flashback to the laidback summers of your childhood, where you run around at day camp with the constant smell of chlorine and sunscreen in the air. Skip a couple of years, and you’re in high school. Now, you’re a counselor with campers of your own to take care of. A little bit more responsibility on your shoulders, but that doesn’t spoil your fun. After-hours, you sneak to the lake with your co-counselors, giggling as you hope not to get caught. Summer nights as a counselor consist of you and your co’s lying on the grass, admiring the stars. Though everyone’s summer experiences have been a little bit different, these are some of the memories many of us share.
However, all of us have found our way to Stern College, located in the loud bustling city that never sleeps. Even though I’m from Long Island, moving to the city was still a little bit of a culture shock for me. Everything and everyone in the city is in a rush to get to the next big thing, and I immediately felt the pressure to get involved in the “city rush.”
When it came to contemplating what my plans were going to be for the summer, finding an internship was unquestionably the first thing that came to mind. How could I not take advantage of going to college in New York City, the center of culture, business, fashion, film, and the arts? Since it seemed to me that everyone around me was looking to further their careers, I stalked Career Link to jump onto the next big thing. I made several appointments with the Career Center to perfect my resume and cover letters. The camp I worked at the summer before offered me a position, but I considered it only as a backup option. In the end, I was not accepted to the only internship position I applied to. I’m sure the majority of Stern students go through the same predicament that I did.
Now, as I reflect more intently on my summer plans, it occurs to me that internships are not the be all or end all. Sure, it’s great to gain experience in the field one is looking to go into and pad up a resume by doing so, but I realized it’s not worth stressing out over. Dorming in the city that never sleeps made me feel as though everything is a fast-paced competition to reach success, but it is okay to use the summer to take a breather. There is no reason to feel rushed to get to the so-called real world. There are other things Stern students can spend their summers doing that can serve as learning opportunities as well.
Indeed, I think going back to that Jewish camp for which you served as a camp counselor is a great option. A camp counselor has the opportunity to provide campers with incredible summers, instilling confidence in them during a crucial period where younger children are figuring themselves out.
Returning to being a camp counselor isn’t the only option though. If you have the funds available, traveling to a place you’ve never been before could really broaden your horizons. Whether it be a different continent completely or just a road trip to a different state, it is a special opportunity to see something different. Another equally valuable option that college is staying at home and getting a summer job, like working at a local fro-yo place or clothing store.
I think a relaxed summer job really gives us, as college students, a time to grow ourselves. The time that you spend off the job could be spent writing a short story, beginning to play a new instrument, starting a blog, or learning how to cook. It’s an opportunity to learn things that there hasn’t been time for during the year. On the weekends, you can hit up a music festival or go for a hike. Granted, many people wouldn’t take advantage of the free time to learn or see new things, opting to watch Netflix instead. But us Stern students are go-getters, and I feel confident that if we set our minds to it, we will make the most of our summers.
I’m not saying that getting an internship isn’t beneficial in the long run—of course it is! Every Stern student should definitely get an internship at some point during her college years, taking advantage of all the perks of living in the city. We can’t really know if we’re in love with our career choices until we dabble in different internships and get a certain feel for them.
However, if one doesn’t manage to attain an internship this summer, there are clearly many more incredible opportunities! So cheers to Summer 2015, fellow Stern students! May everyone have fulfilling summers and come back with amazing stories to share when school rolls around, no matter what you end up doing.