The Daily Campus

Issue date: 4/8/09 Section: Commentary

Despite the rainy days, summer is coming quickly, and it's time to start making plans. Summer is a great time to make some extra cash or gain some internship experience. There's even time to take a quick class if you need some more credits or to boost your GPA. The choices are endless; just make sure you still have time to hit the beach or relax!

Whether you're going home for the summer or looking for something to do around UConn, there are many job opportunities available. While the market is tight, if you look hard enough the right jobs are there. UConn has many summer job opportunities listed on the student employment Web site. There are also numerous internship listings, usually by each academic department. If you look at each site or talk to your advisor, you may still be able to find something. Typically, internships don't pay, but they are worth it for the job experience.

However, if it's money you're looking for, go find a job. There are many summer jobs that don't involve being stuck indoors while it's gorgeous outside. If you live near the coast or by a lake, you could train to be a lifeguard. The job actually pays well, and you still get your tan. Working at a camp is another outdoors job opportunity. There are always openings for camp counselors to trek around the forest with little kiddies, perfect for someone looking for experience working with children, or just someone who loves hiking and other camp activities. If you're on a sports team, UConn holds many sports camps over the summer and most of those counselors are students from various teams. Every camp varies by age and skill level, so there are spaces for any field of interest and level of experience.

While no one really likes taking classes when they don't have to, summer session classes are truly a convenient arrangement - if you end up staying on or near Storrs or a regional campus. Summer classes have different levels of intensity ranging from three weeks to 12 weeks, and they are mostly taught by teaching assistants who are well aware that you would rather be outside - most of the time, anyway. If you need the extra credits or would like to get a class out of the way, a summer session is the perfect way to do it.

But even if you end up with a mind-numbing retail job, don't let it get to you. It's still summer, and you're still making money. And no matter what you do, at least make sure to make time for a vacation - it is still a break.

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