It’s always nice (and also a little weird) coming back from a break.This was the first winter break in a while where I didn’t have any homework. I flew back from Minnesota a couple days before the start of classes and was happy to experience a huge temperature jump from -26 Fahrenheit (with wind chill) to about 81. That one hundred and five degree increase makes this feel like the real vacation in some ways!
The first day of classes wasn’t too long ago, and things are already gearing up. Though the semester is only just starting, it’s already that time to start thinking about summer jobs and internships.
The past two summers I have worked part-time at a flower shop. This summer, I am hoping to do something a little different. Not that I don’t like my current job, but if I don’t do something more full-time, I may go crazy from the excess free time.
As a first year looking for potential opportunities, it’s hard to know where to start. I know what I’m studying in school (Foreign Languages), but I’m not sure what I want to do after that. This makes it harder to start a ‘track,’ so to speak, to a certain career path.
So, when I am thinking of jobs or internships, I’m looking at a few different areas of interest. Languages, translation, and interpreting are definitely on my mind, but that’s not all. I’m also looking into public relations positions as well as copy editing.
Though I may not necessarily go into PR or editing, they both seem like interesting fields to start exploring, whether or not they are directly related to foreign languages. Other possible avenues could be internships abroad, but maybe not for this summer. I’d be interested in looking into that more in the future.
Another thing that I’m exploring is location. My hometown isn’t too far from a metro area (Minneapolis/St. Paul is only about an hour and a half away). I have family and friends in the area as well, which means I would likely be able to find housing.
Looking outside home brings a lot more possibilities, though it means being far from my parents, sister, and some of my friends. Even so, I think it’s exciting to think about exploring new opportunities and to learn about being independent, especially following year one of college.
No matter what happens in the summer job search, I know I’ll have a place at the flower department, and I could always pick up more hours in other departments or get a second job too. Nothing is set in stone yet, so I’m glad that I have some time yet to think about my plans and work them out.
After what seems like a simultaneously years long semester and one that flew by in three seconds, winter break if finally here (yay!). It will be the first time this semester when I will be able to go back to Minnesota to see friends and family in person, though one of my friends did come to visit as a Scripps prospie. This is by far the longest time I’ve been away from home, and I am looking forward to flying back to the beautiful snow and holiday cheer. Flying back to the cold is debatable… I’ll get used to it again eventually.
After a busy semester, it’s always good to take a bit of a break. I know I’ll be doing some sledding with my friends as well as spending time with my family. My sister and I have one or two dramas to watch over break already… I know I’ll stop by my high school too to see some of my former teachers. It’ll be fun to re-acquaint myself with not only changes around the house, but also the city and fins out new things that my friends are up to.
Just because it will be break doesn’t mean I’ll be stopping my work. I likely will try to get ahead on Korean vocabulary for second semester and do some hours of work at the floral shop again (note to self, ask my boss to put me on the schedule over break). Aside from that, I hope to look into jobs for the summer in case I do not end up traveling. The big question for me is if I want to stick with my current position at the floral shop, move up in jobs within that grocery store, start a second part time job, or begin a new job more relevant to my career interests.
I have put in a little but of thought to this up until now, but with few results. It would be really neat to shadow or do a (paid?) internship where I could learn about interpreting. I know that at the Mayo Clinic there are medical interpreters, but I would have to look and see what sort of lower level opportunities they offer through that department, if any. The school district or local education systems may have something as well. but I’d have to look and see.
Either way, I’ll be busy relaxing and working over break. It’ll be nice to be home, even if it means wearing a heavy coat and mittens every time I leave the house.
Ahh, yes, it’s that time of year once again. The leaves are falling, the temperature is dropping (well, at least it should be), and the end of November is within grasp. This also means that a lot has been happening since our last little break, back in October, and the end-of-the-semester crunch is beginning to rear its nasty little head. I know I’m not the only one wondering where this semester has gone–let alone the rest of this year. Time sure flies when you’re having fun, right?
Wait, there are HOW many weeks left before winter break???
With final paper due dates looming in the not-so-distant future, different class projects that always seem to be due at the exact same time, thesis deadlines approaching far too rapidly, and this semester’s flex allotment nearing dangerously low levels, it is definitely the perfect time for a little break–from work, from stress, and from all the aforementioned factors that can really weigh us down this time of year. Enter: Thanksgiving break! The perfect blend of time off, relaxation, good food, and the last little rest before the final push of the semester. Whether you’re going home, staying on campus, or tagging along to someone else’s house for the holidays, the break is a great opportunity to take a mental break from the stress of school, but also finish up some of the work that can pile up before the end of the semester and finals time.
Me @ all of my assignments right now……yikes.
As someone who absolutely needs to do some work this Thanksgiving break, I’ve outlined some of the ways in which this Thanksgiving break can be the best one yet–getting the necessary time off that we all deserve, while making sure there is still some productivity happening during the days off. Have a look at some of the steps I will be taking to ensure I stay on top of things as I stuff my face with turkey and enjoy some quality cuddle time with my cat. Keep in mind, what works for me might not work for you. But, if that’s the case, then go ahead and design your own Thanksgiving to-do list!
See? You can be just as productive as this lil guy here.
So, without further ado, here’s my “Thanksgiving Break Productivity Cheat Sheet!”
(spoiler alert: it is very unlikely that I will be following all these steps to a tee, but at least the foundation for not completely sleeping through my entire break is on the table)
Before you leave (or before break “officially” starts), plan out the work, applications, or specific assignments that you want to get done, and make sure to bring whatever you need to complete it.
This is particularly important if you are going to be traveling over break–be it home or elsewhere. If you need a specific book for reference as you finish up a paper, or need that one notebook you scribbled down some notes in for that one class, make sure you bring it! There is nothing worse than remembering that somewhere, in the deep crevices of your backpack, is a small piece of paper that has a really bomb piece of information on it that will totally cinch your conclusion. If you plan accordingly for the work you want to do, it will make it that much easier once it’s time to sit down and start it.
Figure out a day (or days) that would work best for you to set aside for being productive, and make a plan for how you want to structure your working day.
For obvious reasons, the actual day of Thanksgiving might not be your best bet for having some time to get work done. I know that I will be waaaaayy too full of yummy food all day to even think about sitting down and writing–talk about a food coma. But, if that works for you, then go for it! Visualizing how you’re going to spend your break (whether it be with friends, family, or in bed snuggling with your pets) makes it easier to set aside some time for working, especially if you already know you have plans to work around.
Tell your family/friends/pets that you want some time to yourself to do what you need to do.
It can be very tempting over break to try and squeeze in as much time with your friends and family that are in town as possible. If that’s what you want to do with your time, then have at it! Seeing old friends for the first time in a long time is a great way to rejuvenate after a solid couple of months of school. But, if you have work that needs to be done, letting them know ahead of time can help you make more effective plans, without hurting anyone’s feelings.
Be realistic about what you want to/will get done!
Look, it’s Thanksgiving break. If you get caught up in the holiday spirit, or take an impromptu trip with your family somewhere and spend less time on your essay or whatever, it’s not the end of the world. You deserve a little break! And, if you’re like me and know that you’ll probably get less work done than you initially planned, leaving a little wiggle room for some extra down time might not be a bad thing.
And, on that note……
GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK!
It’s been a busy semester, and this break is happening for a reason (besides a government mandate…..you know what I mean). It’s good for us all to take a step back and reflect on how the semester has been going so far, and sometimes that means just getting out of the school mindset altogether. Especially at this time of year, instead of worrying about everything that is coming up after break (and it can be a lot, don’t get me wrong), think about everything that you’ve accomplished at this point. For seniors, this is pretty wild–it’s our last Thanksgiving as college students! We’ve done so much in our 3.5 years so far! But even if you’re not a senior, try reflecting back on all the papers, all the tests, and all the hard work you’ve put into your education. Seriously, you deserve a break!
So, keeping this all in mind, go forth and have a restful, well-fed Thanksgiving break. If you get all your work done, then hey! That’s great! But, if not, no worries. You’ll figure it out.
