There are only about 5 more weeks until this semester is over, so this is prime time to start thinking about how you’re going to spend those upcoming four months. Instead of going back to your hometown, wondering where all your high school friends are, try making this summer a productive one!
One great way to do so is to find a summer job or volunteer experience. By attaining a summer job, you can get helpful experience to include on your resume and you can earn extra money to use during the school year. With so many people getting out of school at the same time, these opportunities often get filled fast. I’d suggest getting started on your search right now, so below are some helpful resources:
- UP Online Job Board, http://www.collegecentral.com/up/ – Try visiting the UP Job Board to find a job. The jobs and internships posted on this website are from employers who specifically contact Career Services to employ UP students or graduates. That means they’re already looking for students like you and the public might not know about these job opportunities, unlike other job boards like Craigslist or Monster.
- Portland Parks & Recreation, http://www.pdxparks.org/job_board/output/db/jobs_List.asp – Portland Parks & Recreation is actively looking for students to be Playground Activity Leaders and Day Camp Instructors this summer! The dates of employment are June 21st-August 15th. This position is perfect for students who have experience working with youth and/or have a passion for that population. Why not spend this summer playing outside with kids and showing off your leadership skills.
- Summer Camps, http://www.ymca.net/career-opportunities/camp-positions.html – Another similar way to spend your summer fostering youth development is to be a camp instructor through the YMCA. The YMCA has day camps and residential camps all over the country. Take a look at their website and see if there’s a camp in your home state!
- Interns for Justice, http://wordpress.up.edu/moreauservelearn/interns-for-justice/ – The Interns for Justice Program invites University of Portland students to engage in summer service with local community partners serving underserved and marginalized populations throughout the summer. While this is an amazing program to embark on in general, students also get an $800-$1000 UP scholarship and a summer stipend to assist with living expenses.
- Volunteering, http://www.up.edu/moreaucenter/ & http://wordpress.up.edu/moreauvolunteerblog/ – Volunteering is a great way to spend your summer and gain experience working with people from different walks of life. You can volunteer with one organization throughout the summer or even try a different volunteering opportunity each week! Check out the Moreau Center website to see current opportunities in the community.
Written by Lissy
