As everyone returns to school following spring break, the topic easily overheard on all corners of campus, besides how all of the flowers seemingly bloomed out of nowhere, is plans for the summer. As we are students of Elon University, exotic vacations, internships and general debauchery are not lacking around campus as those students have their summer locked in.
What about the rest of us? You know, the people who are staying at home or school. Working the most common form of internship (desk work), or worse still, a monotonous job that has nothing to do with our future career plans. We are Elon students. Aspiring global citizens should not be reduced to working at home for the summer. We should be off on adventures like so many of our friends and becoming the shining beacon of global citizenship we all want to be.
After being accosted day in and day out by the end of the semester, we just want to hold our heads down in shame for not finding something more exciting than working at home. Chin-up fellow homebodies, there are benefits to our habitual lifestyles.
When you find yourself jealously stalking your friend’s adventure through Africa interacting with all kinds of animals, think to yourself how much money you are saving by living vicariously through their Facebook photos. If seeing animals through photos is not enough, go to the zoo - it will suffice for at least one of the days your friend is posting endless statuses and photos. If all else fails continuously think of the money they are losing on this trip.
Possibly the summer experience to be most envious of is your friends with the exciting, unique internship held in a thrilling location. Yes, you can take solace in the fact that your friend is most likely doing boring desk work from nine to five every day. But alas, once work is done for the day, they have New York, Los Angeles or Washington D.C. to explore.
If their internship does not consist of boring desk work, but work that is meaningful to their career, then it is best for you to pretend that friend has fallen of the face of Earth for the summer, than listen to their exploits via Skype or Facebook chat.
For those stuck at home, remember your time will come to be the friend that posts photos “holding up” the leaning tower of Pisa or tweeting about the celebrity you saw while picking up coffee for your office.
Instead of wallowing in bitterness, embrace the time spent at home with open arms. It is likely that there will not be many more extended periods of time living with your parents, so if they are still willing to pamper you a bit, enjoy it if nothing else.
As for the time bitterly aware of your friends gallivanting who knows where, think of how you can top their trip when it is your time.