Making the Most of Spring Break

Hi everyone! It is almost the weekend and for myself and students at other universities across the country it is almost Spring Break! This week off of classes is usually extremely needed by students to unwind, take a break from classes, and just relax for a few days ... I know I'm ready for a few days of no classes!! So, with that I wanted to write today's post about making the most of your week off this Spring!

TRAVEL

I think what everyone wants to do on their Spring Break is travel ... specifically someplace warm or tropical to get away from the Winter weather! If you have the resources and the time, why not travel to a new place and experience an exciting new culture. In a past post I talked about the perfect spots for Spring Break, so check it out here!Whether you are going to the beach, to the city, or out in the country to visit family, make it a learning and growing experience for yourself! Take along a book to read for fun or visit an interesting museum with your group of friends!

VOLUNTEER

A great thing about Spring Break is the amount of opportunities that are out there to volunteer, whether in your college community, local community, or someplace else in the country or in the world! Look for the opportunities to serve others while gaining leadership and career experience. When I was in undergrad, some friends of mine actually traveled down south to help with care clinics in rural parts of the country. They provided check-ups and other non-extensive medical attention to people who otherwise would not have access to it. There are tons of great opportunities like this that are afforded to college students, so ask your professors or administrators about programs they would recommend. 

HOMEWORK

Obviously, I'm going to mention working on school projects and reading ahead for assignments. While this may not be the best part of Spring Break, you should definitely try to get some work done. Whether it is reading research for a huge paper or working on a final portfolio, start on it! You will kick yourself if you don't get work done, so set aside some time throughout the week to work on it. Two hours here and there mixed in with some Netflix and sleeping can help you get ahead for when classes start again!

VISIT FRIENDS

Take your week off to visit your high school friends. If they have Spring Break at the same time, that works great, but if not don't be discouraged. Why not plan a road trip to their university to see them. It is always interesting visiting friends when they are in college because you get to see what they are experiencing and you get to meet all of the new friends they've made. Make new memories with them so that your friendship can continue to survive into your adult years!

JOB SHADOW

With a week off from school, you may finally have the opportunity to shadow a career mentor that you have been wanting to. Whether it is the whole week or just a day, use that time to see how an office works or to meet a career mentor for coffee. It can give you a good glimpse on where you want to guide your career and possible internship ideas for next summer. Use this free time to start thinking a little more about what you want to do and what other experiences you want to gain during your college career!

Most importantly, make sure you relax and enjoy your time off and time spent with family and friends! Let it be productive, but also let yourself be lazy a little bit! 

enjoy the chase,

skylar

Volunteering in College

Happy November everyone!!  I hope you all had a fun and safe Halloweekend with your family and friends. Please note that just because you are in high school or college, that doesn't mean you still can't dress up and have a festive time, so you have 364 days to figure out your costume for next year!

Tonight I want to talk to you all about the act of volunteering in college. It is a very important aspect of most college campuses and is a requirement at some. During my Freshmen year of college, we were required to complete 60 hours of community service. Luckily, they had a Community Service Fair during Orientation to help us find an organization to work with. But, if your university doesn't have a Volunteer Fair, here are some ideas for finding the right organization for you.

On-Campus Clubs - Check out your college's listing of clubs and organizations, some of them offer some great community service opportunities. A lot of universities have a chapter of Circle K, which is a service organization affiliated with the Kiwanis Club. They offer so many different opportunities to volunteer in the community and with other on-campus organizations. Also, check out the Relay for Life Club on campus, the Key Club, or the Lion's Club to find even more chances to volunteer. These organizations also allow for potential leadership positions in your university's chapter and the national chapter!

Event Volunteers - No matter the size of the campus you attend, there will be events happening that you can help with. These can range from conferences and Welcome Weekend to concerts and sporting events. Whatever your niche may be, find an event that fits your interest and that you will enjoy doing. During my undergrad, I helped with our Reunion Weekend during the summer and I also was a Big Events Volunteer for on-campus concerts. Both had their own perks and I enjoyed them while still being able to boost my resume and gain more experience!

Local Schools - If you are an Education major, this is a GREAT chance to gain experience, really boost your resume, and help out other teachers. Once you have all of your clearances completed and your fingerprinting done, you can tutor within a school district. I know that elementary teachers especially are always looking for an extra hand in the classroom and if this is your area of interest, then definitely pursue it. Also, if you have already completed Freshmen field work or a student teaching experience, use your rapport with those students to continue volunteering with that teacher.

Churches and Youth Groups - Whether you consider yourself Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist ... whichever divine figure you believe in, you can always volunteer at a local place of worship. You can end up working in the soup kitchen, the food pantry, youth group, or teaching Sunday School. No matter what it is, the church members will be grateful that you are volunteering your time and helping them. (They can also become a great support system to you throughout your four years in college.)

Social Organizations - There are also community service experiences available to you in your college town or in a neighboring city. If you are a political or social rights activist, this would be a great route to get out in the college's community and gain connections. These organizations could be Planned Parenthood, Rape Crisis, the Republican Council, or a special interest group in the area. If you can relate these organizations to a career or an area that you would be interested in learning more about, then try out volunteering to get a better idea of the environment.

These suggestions can help you give back to your college campus and your college's community, while still gaining more experience and helping you grow your career. The good thing about volunteering is that if you don't particularly like the experience after trying it, once the commitment is finished, you don't have to go back and you can find another organization to help.

As we approach the season of giving, I hope you think about adding some volunteer efforts into your schedule and give back to your community!

"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." - Gandhi 

enjoy the chase,

skylar