Mark Braboy
Blue & White Flash / Staff Writer
Well my fellow Jacksonians, it is almost that time again. In less than a week, our beloved summer vacation will finally be among us! No more papers, no more hard-core exams, just enjoying the fruits of your hard labor for the next three months. But as corny as this may sound, while you are doing this, you should be thinking about your future and consider finding new options and opportunities for yourself.
While summer vacation is all about rejuvenating yourself for the following school year (or grad school if you are graduating), it would also behoove you to take those three months and figure out how to put yourself in the best position possible in the near future whether its academically, financially, or career wise. As quiet as it is kept, the summer could possibly be one the most critical times in your matriculation through Jackson State.
Some of you may be asking, what makes this an important time? Simply put, it depends on what you are trying to do.
Find a job to make ends meet. During the summer between my sophomore and junior year, my family and I were facing hard times and money was scarce. Luckily, I was able to find work through a temp agency and ended up with a very lucrative and life changing job at the local water treatment plant. While this job had virtually nothing to do with my major, I was able to pick up a few gems about working in the real world that was more valuable than the money. I learned about working in a rigorous environment, job etiquette, how to impress your employer, and having a quality work ethics.
Also, you should consider working to save up money for the Fall and Spring semesters. It will come in handy when you need school supplies, textbooks, toiletries, and especially in situations where you wish to join an organization. Also more importantly, you may want to take your respective majors standardized test such as the GMAT, PRAXIS I and II, LSAT, and the GRE to graduate and qualify for graduate school or your career.
Attend summer school. If you plan on graduating on time and have adequate financial aid, then you should consider taking up the June/July summer sessions on campus. It is only for a few weeks and will be well worth it in the end.
Have an internship lined up. Although many of these deadlines have passed by now, it should not discourage you from looking. It pays to have an internship somewhere in your field. Internships can provide you with the same exposure to working in the real world. The difference is that those internships can provide you with hands on experience with whatever your career plans may be and will solidify your resume. Also, internships will give you an opportunity to build relationships with co-workers and employers for advice, a good recommendation letter, or even to be considered for a job wherever you are doing your internship.
Do some community service. During the summer, there are all kinds of opportunities to do volunteer work whether it is for Habitat for Humanities, Stewpot, or simply volunteering at your local church. Rack up some well needed community service hours in order to graduate on time.
Prepare for Graduate School. This is especially important if you will be a graduating senior next semester. Start searching for a good graduate school program in your field of study. The summer is the best time to get an early start because before you know it, application deadlines will sneak up on you. While doing that, find grants and scholarships because while graduate school is important, the cost of it makes Jackson State’s undergraduate tuition look miniscule (depending on where you go of course).
Motivated by one of my best friends, my plans for this summer will be attending both sessions of summer school while doing a summer internship with the Jackson Free Press and working on my hip-hop blog. I will also be searching for a great job or lucrative internship for when I graduate.
The views expressed in the commentary are those of the writer(s) and in no way represent the views of The Blue & White Flash.
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