What can you do?
The summer holidays can seem a long and drawn out time when you're used to the daily guidance of school or college. When the summer comes you have no work to worry about, so how are you going to fill those listless days until it's time to pick up your books and head on back to class? For some people, the summer just means lots of sun-bathing, beach-going, ball-playing, water-fighting and general frolicing; but other people might find this way of passing their time unfulfilling, so what else can you do?
Summer Jobs
Many companies hire additional staff during the summer months, so it is an ideal time for students seeking temporary employment.
A summer job is a productive way to spend your summer for a number of reasons. Firstly, you are earning money, which you can put towards something constructive such as living costs at University in the following year. A summer job also breaks the monotony of sitting around at home, and gives you something to focus on. A further reason to get a job is the fact that you will meet and interact with new people, and might make some more friends.
Help me find a summer job!
Other Work Experience
In addition to full time summer jobs, there are other ways of gaining useful work experience and cash. You could try obtaining some work experience in the sector you are interested in. You may wish to work part-time so you'll still be able to join in with summer activities with your friends. Another option is volunteering, which not only provides something productive for you to be doing, but will also make a good addition to any CV.
Help me find these things!
Holidays
Yes, who doesn't like holidays? You've worked hard throughout the year (or you should have) and now you deserve (or maybe you don't) a nice holiday to take your mind off things. Although many of you may still have an expenses paid trip with your family, now that you're old enough you can always think about doing something just with your friends. Taking the opportunity to do things like this for yourself will set you in good stead for university life; and even if you're not planning on university, it's likely to improve your self confidence, as well as giving you some life-experience, and a nice topic of conversation.
Travelling around the UK
Feel like you want to get away for a bit, but don't want to stay in one place? Why not just get up and go? Jump on a train, visit some places you've never been. Most big cities have plenty of overnight accommodation and holiday resorts are bound to have B&B's so you can keep on the move. Why not see how many cities you can visit in one summer? You might be surprised how great some of them are!
Outdoor events
There are various day and weekend festivals going ahead this summer, in line with Covid regulations. If you're planning on heading to a festival, these are a great way to spend a few days of your summer - stuck in a field with no showers and poor toilet facilities, getting sweaty and listening to loud music, what more could you possibly want?! Remember to book early, because tickets to the big festivals sell out fast, especially as there's reduced numbers. But don't worry if you miss out, smaller more intimate, and sometimes more local, festivals, will still provide and enjoyable atmosphere to while away a few days without the parents.
Read
Read, read and read some more! You have so many free hours now, so why not use them productively? Read novels, read newspapers, read factual documents. Read anything and everything, and fill your mind with knowledge!
Okay, so maybe it's not that exciting, but you'll certainly have plenty of time to yourself. Go to the park, grab a seat, and do some reading as the world walks by. You never know, someone may just start an interesting conversation with you if they see you reading their favourite book.
