As summer approaches, conversations often focus on what you’re doing this summer: “What are your plans?”, “Where are you interning?”, or “Did you finale any plans yet?”
It can feel like everyone has something lined up for summer. You hear about prestigious companies, big cities, or “perfect” opportunities and start to measure your own path against them. It’s easy to lose your own priorities in the noise.
What doesn’t get talked about as much are the many classmates figuring things out later than expected, the applications that didn’t work out, or the people choosing rest, family time, or different kinds of experiences this summer. There is no single “right” way to spend your summer.
What Do You Actually Want?
Take a moment to step back and ask yourself:
- What would feel meaningful or helpful for me after the semester ends?
- What do I need from summer? Is it experience, income, rest, exploration or something else?
For some students, that’s an internship. For others, it might be a job, summer classes, volunteering, research, or time to reset.
All of those, and infinitely other options, are valid.
Redefining “Productive”
Productivity doesn’t have to mean constant career advancement.
A summer can be productive if it helps you gain clarity about what you do (or don’t) want, build skills in any setting, or take care of your mental and physical health.
If the Pressure Feels Heavy
Feeling behind or uncertain can take a toll on your confidence and mental health. If that’s happening, you’re not alone, and you don’t have to navigate it by yourself.
- The Heels Care Network offers a myriad of mental health support options, including ones centering the needs of graduate and professional student.
- The UNC Career Center can help you explore options, review applications, and think through next steps without judgment about where you are in the process.
You are building your path in real time, and can take pride in every step.
Other people’s timelines don’t define yours. Healthy Heels is here to support you, not just in what you do this summer, but in how you take care of yourself while figuring it out 💙