As most college students now commence their summer holidays after a tiring academic year and after answering their exams, it is common for them to just while away their time watching web series, playing video games and engaging in other such leisurely activities. Although they deserve a time of fun and enjoyment after spending sleepless nights during exams, it is also important to strike a balance between leisure and personal growth.
There are several activities that one can engage in during these holidays to not just keep oneself engaged but also to gain new skills and develop one’s personality and information resources. Since there are so many tasks and ventures that need to be given due importance during these summer holidays, it is necessary to improve time management skills as well, so as to keep up with all the activities planned for the summer holidays and successfully complete them all. It is common to fall into a rut and procrastinate during holidays since there are no definite deadlines or schedules that are set. Parents should therefore ensure to do their part in encouraging children in all their attempts and give them the push that they need to wisely utilise this time for their holistic development.
Some such productive activities that students can consider engaging in are volunteering for a good cause by joining NGOs, beach clean-ups, or other organisations that work for the benefit of society. They can find offline or online courses through platforms such as Coursera, which provide several informative courses that can be selected based on one’s preferences in order to gain more knowledge about the topics. They can also start preparing a CV and resume for future internships and jobs, as doing so at a young age can ensure that all achievements are covered and will also reduce the burden of making one from scratch in the future.
Children can be enrolled in educational and fun summer camps, as several clubs and organisations conduct beneficial edutainment (educational entertainment) summer camps to help children enjoy themselves while also learning a lot of new things. They can start something like a YouTube channel or a small business to test their entrepreneurship skills. They should also be encouraged to improve their vocabulary, reading, writing and other basic skills, as these are required in all walks of life.
Besides these, there are many other fruitful activities that students can involve themselves in such as internships, part-time jobs and learning new languages.
Enrique Rodrigues, who just began his summer holidays, says, “I am spending a major part of my holidays on football and physical exercise. Since I have a lot of free time, I am able to devote more time to going for football practice, and playing matches and tournaments, as a part of the South Goa United Football Club. I am using these holidays to improve on my fitness and football skills.”
Samantha Dias Barreto, who recently began her summer break, says, “As a BBA student in Finance and International Business, gaining practical experience in the field is crucial for my career development. Therefore, I don’t mind sacrificing my travel plans for the summer holidays, as I feel an internship will provide me with valuable hands-on experience. I view the summer internship as a chance to explore different career paths within the industry and gain exposure to various roles and responsibilities. I am hoping to clarify my career goals and identify areas of interest that suit my strengths and aspirations. Completing a summer internship will also enhance my resume and make me a more capable candidate for future job opportunities.”
Divya Joseph, a student exploring her photography and videography skills during the holidays, says, “When I bought a new camera for my course as a media student, I was quite intrigued by it and slowly ventured into both photography and videography. I gradually developed a liking towards photography, and therefore decided to utilise these holidays to further pursue my passion by freelancing and doing photoshoots for a resort and other clients. I have also taken up the initiative to do a photoshoot of my friends to build my portfolio.”
Manokhi Cabral, a student of occupational therapy, who is utilising the holidays to learn a new language says, “I am learning Portuguese through Duolingo during the holidays because I have always been curious about the language, due to its influence on Goan culture. For me, learning this language is not just a way of adding to my existing skill set; but it is also indispensable for my career, which will require me to converse with people from various backgrounds.”
Nave Dias, a student doing a part-time job as a dance instructor for a summer dance camp says, “I am very passionate about dance, however, I don’t want to pursue it as a career. I want to spend time teaching it to younger children as well. It will also help me to remain physically fit during the holidays.”
It is evident that if one has the drive and the right support to do so, there are many ways in which one can occupy oneself with self-enhancement activities that are necessary for holistic development.
