Each year, the academic year speeds by. Before you know it, it’s that time of the summer term where students have finished their GCSEs, A Levels (BTECs, T-Levels etc) – as well as university exams and assessments.
If you’re a current student or new graduate (shock, horror – how did that happen!) – you may relate to this. One minute it’s the beginning of Year 11 and your head of careers / careers leader is telling you all about work experience in 8 months’ time and the next – you have completed your first ever major public exams and are sitting in a room debriefing said work experience. (That may sound weirdly specific – because as a head of careers in a secondary school that was my experience recently!)
Does the year race by for you too? I suppose there’s a chance that you may not relate to the “Time flies” concept. Courtesy of the BBC, I came across Psychologist – Dr. Ruth Ogden of Liverpool John Moores University who has conducted experiments to test how people of all ages estimate the passage of time, including under lockdown conditions. She is reported to have said the reason our perception of time varies so dramatically lies in the way we form memories. Children’s lives are filled with new experiences, creating rich memories which make time seem to pass slowly. As we age, we have fewer new experiences, fewer vivid memories, and time rushes by.
Regardless of the speed of time for you generally – we can probably agree that the summer holidays can also whizz by before you know it and it’s in that spirit that I am sharing 5 ways to have an amazing summer holiday – one which also enhances your future career prospects, below.
“Amazing” is defined as “causing great surprise or wonder; astonishing” and more informally as “very impressive; excellent” – and that is the vibe we are working with. What will make this summer feel that way?
- Rest (your body and mind): Let’s start there. There tends to be something manic about the end of the academic year – often fueled by marathon revision sessions, some anxiety about exams and final assessments, of course followed by the emotional toll of it all being over (whether or not you have enjoyed your educational experience) – it’s been a hectic time. So, if you’d like an amazing sure ahead… make sure you get some rest. This is not to suggest you should be bedridden – but a change of pace and energy is needed. So, whether you factor in some lie ins, hang out sessions in coffee shops with friends, afternoons of reading in a swinging egg chair, hours on a sun lounger on holiday, exploring meditation – all of these are such an essential change of pace and can be classified as rest. This is a great foundation for your amazing summer.
- Connect (with family and friends): As human beings, joyful connections can be incredible. This summer, make sure you make the time to connect with some of your favourite people. The sort of people that when you see them, even after a long gap, it feels like no time has passed. The people who you give a lingering hug to as you part, and they are the source of your smile and chuckle as you walk down the road. Those sorts of people. Those who add a lightness and levity to your mood instead of a heaviness. Set up some fun with the energy lifters and it’ll feel like a great summer.
- Develop (your skills and experiences): Summer holidays are a fantastic time for your personal development though building your skills and there is no shortage of options which will benefit you. Work experience, Internships and volunteering are the first things which spring to mind. Gaining experience is an integral part of your success when it comes to securing an exciting job after your education – so it’ll put a spring in your step this summer to know that you are taking positive steps that future you will appreciate.
- Careers curiosity is such an integral part of a positive career journey so if you haven’t yet sorted out some in person work / volunteering experience for this summer – do (1) seek some – see what you can find and (2) participate in some online work experience. Platforms like Springpod (try a career / course before you apply), The Forage (free job simulations), Bright Network (graduate careers for bright minds), Pathway CTM (careers training and mentoring) and Speakers for Schools (work experience for students in state schools) are all platforms worth exploring when it comes to online experiences.
- Delve deeper into your academic interests: There’s a chance that you are going into a year where you need to write a personal statement (for UCAS), application essays (for US universities for example) and / or applications for Masters degrees. All of these activities require you to demonstrate your commitment and interest in your area of academia. Sometimes during the academic year, it can be hard to fit in extra learning / study beyond what’s officially in your current programme so the summer holidays are a brilliant time to dig deeper into academia. This may involve reading, embracing relevant podcasts and webinars as well as participating in additional courses. This may be university summer schools or doing online courses from platforms such as Future Learn (where universities and organisations provide short courses including The Many Faces of Dementia, An Introduction to Cybersecurity, Ecology and Wildlife Conservation, Innovation: the Fashion Industry” and so many more. Engaging in your academic interests further, at a less pressured time than term time is one of the ways you can have an amazing summer holiday.
- Build your personal brand: Gone are the days when the only way to gain experience in your industry of choice was to be hired by an organisation. These days, through building your personal brand online – you are creating your own opportunities and often, standing out from other candidates who are not investing efforts into their personal brand. According to Prospects, a personal brand “starts with what you do, what you value and what you believe” and there are many ways to create this for yourself in a fun and impactful way. For more on this topic, listen to the “What is personal branding and can it improve my career prospects” episode of the Dive Into Your Career podcast.
This summer – have a fantastic time.
Hopefully you are now armed with a multitude of ideas of ways it can be an amazing time for your present and your future. As ever, don’t approach this with overwhelm or trepidation. Choose at least one focus and go for it!