The school year consists of balancing coursework, friends and extracurriculars. People may even have time to squeeze in a job, but on top of college courses, this can be a major challenge. This is why taking advantage of summer to work can be so beneficial. Summer is a time of friends and rest, but it is also a four-month window to make money and gain more responsibility in a new environment.
Finding a job, no matter the season, can be an obstacle. When finding a job, you must determine what will be most worth your time. This means analyzing how much money you'd like to make, the available hours and what skills you'd like to use or gain.
Some of the many summer *work options are: working in a restaurant, nannying, retail or even delivering. These are just a few options, and work depends on someone’s goals. With many choices for work, it's a good way to take advantage of summer. One of the more popular options is working in a restaurant.
Working in a restaurant means working in a fast-paced environment, and it is a way for people to interact with new individuals and find ways to solve problems. People in the front of the house (host, server, etc.) are more likely to speak with new people at work, whereas the chefs and others in the kitchen work more on their own or with each other. They may also be tasked with using more creative assets. A restaurant is an experience for the customer, but also for its associates. Regardless, any restaurant runs on *communication, whether to solve issues or to relay information. This can be a new skill to add to one's resume after beginning this line of work.
Nannying is a way to spend time with young children and be creative with enjoyable activities. It may be a test of patience, but children teach valuable lessons, and this can be a learning opportunity. It is also a great way to make money with a potentially flexible schedule. If one is watching decently older kids, taking them to the pool or a park could benefit everyone and help the time pass quickly.
Retail can bring about more organizational experience and offer opportunities to learn from those in higher positions. Different days may be busier than others, and it depends on the store one applies to. Retail is a way to choose what kind of clothes or items one wishes to work around and help sell. It’d be best to choose a store that one already understands well.
Delivering food is for those who enjoy driving while being out and about. Sitting in an office when it is sunny and warm outside can be unpleasant. *DoorDash is a fun and potentially an easy job where one can make money on their own hours. This is an option for someone who just wants to make a little more money with an already busy schedule. It’s a great way to enjoy flexible hours while driving with music during some of the nicest months of the year.
There are so many options for working over the summer, even if you have a job at school. Maybe see if it's possible to continue working from May to August. Internships are also a big part of the summer, and they create many future opportunities. Getting a little extra money while classes are out of session can relieve some stress and make the school year more enjoyable. It also builds more responsibility and creates a structured schedule.
Kyra Dapore is a senior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk more about it? Let Kyra know by emailing her at kd364521@ohio.edu.
