With the semester coming to a close, GCSU students are looking ahead to summer plans, gaining professional experience through internships or summer cohorts, saving up working jobs, working as camp counselors, traveling or simply taking time to rest and recharge.
Summer camps are a popular summer job for college students. According to students, summer camps are a good job because they are beneficial, convenient and can be high-paying.
Tyne Parker, a sophomore exercise science major, is working at Winshape camps as a skills lead.
Winshape camps is a Christian-based, activity-focused summer camp that has boys and girls overnight and day camp options. Parker will work at the overnight camp for girls.
“I’m basically in charge of all the activities that the kids go to and from,” Parker said.
Summer camp jobs also allow for leadership opportunities that benefit college students in the long run.
“I also make sure that each of [the kids] gets to their activity, and that the counselors in charge of those activities are doing their job right,” Parker said.
Summer camps also help students acquire enhanced communication skills and improved problem-solving abilities that many future employers look for.
“I did Winshape last summer, and I really loved it, and I knew I was gonna go back this year, so I applied again and got the position,” Parker said.
Other popular summer plans among students include internships, studying abroad, working and traveling.
Brianna Carias, a freshman criminal justice, Spanish and psychology major, is spending her summer saving up money and traveling.
“I plan to go back to work as a server and hostess at a restaurant in my hometown,” Carias said.
Like many students, Carias is using the summer as an opportunity to make and save money for the upcoming school year.
Carias also plans on traveling to visit family. She said she loves traveling and it serves as her way to rest and recharge after a stressful school year.
“I also am traveling to Los Angeles to visit family,” Carias said.
But for Anya Phelan, a sophomore nursing major, schoolwork never stops, as she is starting the summer nursing cohort in May.
“I will be in Milledgeville, doing the summer cohort for nursing,” Phelan said.
Phelan said she is a bit disappointed to miss out on the typical college student summer, but is excited to start the cohort.
“It’s what I’ve been wanting to do forever, so I’m excited to actually get into it, especially clinicals,” Phelan said.
Summer classes, cohorts, internships and shadowing opportunities allow students to get experience and get ahead academically, allowing for networking, real-world application and career exploration pre-graduation.
However, Phelan is still making sure to travel, rest and recharge.
“I probably will be going to the beach at some point,” Phelan said.
Arianell Viall, a senior economics major, is beginning her graduate life with a new job.
“I’m starting work at an insurance agency, doing some accounting work,” Viall said.
Viall said she also plans to travel to Amelia Island and potentially Boston, but she said she is preparing to move out into the “adult world” before then.
“I still have to consolidate some of my stuff and figure out what I might need for postgrad and what would be better to put in a box,” Viall said.
Viall also advised younger students to make the most of their remaining college summers.
“Work and make money, find an internship, study abroad, but also enjoy summer and have fun,” Viall said. “You only have so many summers in college.”
Whether students are relaxing and catching up on rest or working and furthering their careers, many students say that everyone is looking forward to what this summer brings.