With three weeks left of school, I am sure the majority of Ball State University students are ready for summer break. Whether you will be hitting the beach, sleeping in, relaxing with your high school friends or working full-time, I suggest making the best of the three months we have off. Take the week-long vacation to Jamaica or Paris, but try to get a job, help out around the house or enroll in summer classes to keep you busy. If we can be productive with our lives during the school year, why can't we in the summer?
I am certainly not the perfect student, but over the course of the last few weeks I have thought a lot about what I want to accomplish over summer break. While I am definitely going to try and sleep in, eat junk food and catch up with friends, I will also be taking a summer class and working at Conner Prairie as a camp counselor. As an education major, I know how important my résumé is to landing a teaching job in the future. I hope working as a counselor teaching and supervising kids will help. I could have worked all summer where I have for the past three years at Qdoba Mexican Grill, but why not fancy up my résumé?
Because I live close to Conner Prairie, I made the necessary calls and filled out the application. With a good interview, I was offered a position. It took a lot of work, but I am excited about the opportunity. Though I am not too thrilled about having to wake up at seven in the morning for two months, I know being a counselor will help me out in the long run. Especially since I want to be a teacher.
In addition to being a day camp counselor in July and August, I am taking an online course through Ball State during the first session of summer school. It is not necessary that I take a class, but as a social studies education major, two extra classes gives me an opportunity to get an additional degree in history. So, by taking one class this summer and one next summer, I can graduate in 2010 with a double-major.
Summer school, working with kids and waking up early may not seem appealing to most Ball State students, but I would rather make something of my summer than sit around and be lazy. Besides, I've done that plenty of times in the past.
Of course, some of you will be taking summer school, working at internships, or - if you're lucky - graduating. But those of you who plan on doing nothing, I ask that you do something. Maybe you have never had a job before, but don't let it deter you from applying somewhere. Or maybe you are afraid of taking summer school. How are one or two classes going to hurt? If you can, try and work somewhere related to your major or field of expertise. Take more classes, work full-time or pick up a hobby. Whatever it is, just be productive.
In the meantime, ask professors, faculty and current employers what you can do to make your summer meaningful. Although I plan on taking some type of vacation while I am away from Muncie, I will also be taking a class and counseling children. The job at Conner Prairie will help out my résumé, while the summer class will work toward graduation. What I accomplish this summer may not seem like instant gratification, but I know this summer can play a role in what I do in the future.
In my case, I think summer will be fun and worthwhile. I just hope your break is, too. Whatever your plans though, have fun and ultimately enjoy the summer. I just think it's better when we can be constructive while doing so.
Jason Marer is a sophomore secondary social studies major and writes 'Think to Exist' for the Daily News. His views do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper.
Write to Jason at jsmarer@bsu.edu
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