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By on November 7, 2017 in Wellness

Photo by Alisa Anton on Unsplash

You have made it through the fall semester, well done! Finals are practically over, and you’re thinking of home – more importantly, rest and relaxation. Many colleges and universities across the country are preparing for a long winter break, some even spanning all the way til the end of January. Yes, it’s a much-needed break, but how can you spend all this free time?

If you are like us, always needing to be doing something fun, we’ve got some ideas for you! Take a look at these college winter break survival hacks that will prepare you for the long winter break.

Find a short-term job

We know this can be tricky because employers don’t want to hire somebody for such a short period. So, what can you do? If you have a summer job that you return to each year, call your boss early and ask if they need more help during the winter. Getting a job will be much easier if you have an existing relationship. The fact that you are familiar with the work will bode well for you.

Other great options are babysitting, house sitting, dog walking, or even snow shoveling. These jobs are not glamorous, but that only means people will pay you to do them! Also, check out sites like Upwork and Freelancer. If you don’t like the idea of a job, think about all the money you’ll have when you’re back at college!

Apply for scholarships and internships

This is a great time to sit down and get some applications done. Don’t waste your entire winter break applying for scholarships and internships, just use your time wisely. Devoting a few hours a week will be plenty of time – think of them as the hours you would usually be spending studying or hanging out with friends at college. Planning and organizing can make a world of difference. Organizing Your Scholarship Search has lots of great tips to get you started in your search for a great scholarship.

The same goes for your internship applications. Stay focused on your internship search throughout the year and try to get in early. Get online and read about what companies are looking for. Always try to stand out in your interview. If you want, try to organize a job shadow to learn about career prospects and do a little networking.

Take a trip

If you have some expendable cash, use your time away from college for a little holiday. This winter break is the perfect time to hit the slopes! There are so many great ski resorts scattered around the country. No matter where you live, there is somewhere close by. Don’t know where you should go? Head to Snowpak for all the best ski resort information. You could also try to find work at a ski resort so you can make some money and brush up on your skiing at the same time.

Do you have family in another state? Maybe you can stay with a friend? Visiting people will help you save cash on your vacation.

Take an online class

Why not get ahead with your studies? Most colleges and universities offer online classes throughout the entire year. This gives you the option to get a subject done from the comfort of your own home. Check if there’s a winter term class available. It will most likely cost extra money, but it’s great idea if you want to graduate a little early.

Volunteer locally

There are plenty of great things to do during a winter break, and one of them is helping others. You have many opportunities to get involved by volunteering during the break. Not only does it feel great to help others, but it can add a great point of difference to your resume. You may pick up a new skill, discover an interest, meet a new friend or even somebody that could give you a job in the future.

Remember, your winter break is what you make it. Don’t sit around the house and waste precious time. Get out there!

This article was contributed by guest author Savannah Wardle.

By on May 12, 2014 in Academic Life, Our Stories, Wellness
Image by nagzi, Flickr

Image by nagzi, Flickr

Returning to academia after an extended period can be a fairly difficult experience. For one, students do not get paid and that can mean doubling your workload. But whether you have been working or not, enrollment means a drastic change in schedule and a restructuring of your priorities. Yet, this is exactly what I decided to do a few years ago.

Let’s start at the beginning. I studied English in university for two and a half years before I had to drop out. It’s not that I was a poor student; my marks were decent. I dropped out primarily because of mental health issues. This was compounded by the fact that I had come to dislike my area of study as I progressed into upper year courses and the material became more and more focused.

While I dealt with my mental health issues, I found work through a temp agency doing unskilled labour jobs. I spent nearly four years working on and off at these types of jobs. It was very unfulfilling and that was part of my motivation for returning to school. I could not picture myself doing unskilled labour for the rest of my life. I wanted access to something more and a university degree would give me that. Yet, I did not really want to return to university. I feared the crippling debt I would have to incur in order to do so.

But in a choice between mundane work and debt, I chose the option that would enable a brighter future.

When I was healthy enough, I applied to my hometown university and fortunately I got in. University was my job now, and I took it very seriously. But if it was a job, it was one I lacked experience in. I had forgotten basically everything from my previous university experience. It is astounding how much one forgets in four years.

I didn’t remember how to take notes in class, let alone how to approach the first assignment I was faced with: a book review.

I made ample use of my professor’s office hours and the university’s writing centre just to get the basics down. Needless to say, I did not receive a great mark; however, it allowed me to take stock of the areas I needed to improve in. Apparently, I had forgotten the rules of grammar. It was re-learning this basic stuff that was the most difficult thing for me to do. It took many hours talking with professors and teaching assistants, combined with trial and error on my own part to sharpen my diminished skills.

That was the downside. There was considerable upside to returning after a long layoff. With my added years of life experience, my mindset had shifted considerably. I was no longer content to do just enough to get by. Instead, I wanted to put forth my best effort on every assignment. I was more driven to succeed because I was returning to school for a purpose, rather than attending university because it is simply what one does after high school. I wanted to be engaged in my studies rather than merely going through the motions.

This quickly began to show in my grades. I became more willing to seek assistance from my professors and from the university staff. I felt that these resources were there to help me after all and it turns out professors are generally nice people, especially if you are able to show that you have a genuine desire to learn.

I do not regret my decision to return to university for a minute. The monetary cost was high, but the education I have gained has equipped me with a variety of skills I did not have before and thus allowed me to expand my horizons beyond unskilled labour. I think the key to my success was that I took advantage of the resources and opportunities that my university provided. I urge every current student to do the same.

As a returning student, I know I had a lot of questions, so don’t be afraid to ask them. If you don’t know something, find someone who does and figure it out. It makes life at university so much easier. On a final note, depending on your situation, it might be best to ease your way back into school. You have the option to take one or two courses to begin. I took an 80 percent course load, and this helped me not to be overwhelmed by the experience.