For most students, summer break can seem way too short. Make the most of your time off this summer by creating awesome memories, staying on top of your responsibilities and preparing for the coming school year.

Volunteer Your Time

Volunteering can make you feel good about yourself and offer work experience and adventure. Student programs often deploy volunteers abroad, so you could travel to a foreign country and gain some valuable cultural experience. To find volunteer opportunities, you could check with your employer, check with other companies, visit local mission groups or charities. Working as a counsellor at a summer camp isn’t considered volunteer work, but it can offer some valuable, feel-good work experience and the opportunity to travel for free, as well. No matter where you volunteer, you will build communication, teamwork, and human relations skills that can be carried through school and into your future career.

Stay in the Know

Staying ‘in the know’ can help keep your mind and perspective fresh. The best way to stay in the know is to read the news. Reading news articles from trusted, reputable news sources (online and in print) can keep you updated on current events. It can also help inspire critical thinking, something which will undoubtedly help you in your studies. Sharing your thoughts, feelings and opinions with others can reinforce this skill. Reading about current events is also an excellent way to stay connected to the world and even your peers.

Get Some Work Experience

Because students have so much free time during the summer, many of them fill that time with a full-time or part-time job. Not only does a job provide work experience, it also enables you to make money for fun summer activities and to save money for the coming fall term. If you want an even more valuable work experience, consider an internship. Internships provide experience and preparation for your future career. Although not all internships are paid, they can offer much more than money:

• Lessons in work ethic, communication, initiative and independence
• Transferrable skills
• Future job experience
• A boost to your résumé

If an internship isn’t right for you, there are so many job options for students to choose from. For example, you could get a seasonal job, such as working on a cruise ship. A job like this could offer unparalleled fun and adventure along with a free vacation.

Look for Housing

Competition for student housing increases dramatically as the fall term approaches. Unfortunately, by this time, the best housing may be already taken. Therefore, you should start looking as early as possible. The early summer presents a prime opportunity for finding good housing. Places like Regent Student Living offer premium St. Catharine’s student housing at affordable rates, but top housing communities like this fill up fast. Use some of your free time this summer to find a place where you will love to live during the upcoming school year. Summer can also be an excellent time to search for compatible roommates.

Make the most of your summer break and book a tour of Regent Student Living today!