Staying on Campus for the Summer

Staying on Campus for the Summer Lets talk about staying on campus for the summer. Since weve probably never met before/maybe you havent read my bio, Im Maggie, an English and Economics double major with a minor in Informatics. Was staying in Champaign-Urbana this summer always part of some grand plan? No, not really. Theres a lot of pressure to make the summer between junior and senior year an Impressive Internship Summer, and I did have a grand plan that involved interning in some far off place that was neither my hometown, nor Champaign-Urbana. I had an internship last summer that I commuted to from home, which was a really positive experience if you subtract the commuting part. Rush hour  is too real, my friends. This summer, I wanted something different. However, part of my problemâ€"a recurring problem for meâ€"is that I still dont know what I want to do after graduation. Im earning a liberal arts degree with a technical minor, and that doesnt really point me in one specific direction, which is equal parts cool and terrifying. After graduation, I know I want to get a job. Some job, any job. And maybe go to grad school once some job, any job gives me a little insight into what would be worth  going to grad school for. In summary: I could do anything and everything! But also,  yikes, what do I do??? So heres where I sing the praises of summer internships. In  January, I threw my resume and cover letter at a  lot  of different types of internships in a lot of different places. Without a specific career in mind, I wanted one that would make for a fulfilling summer while helping me puzzle out my future. If I landed I job I enjoyed, then great! If it was all my nightmares come alive, fantastic! Because either way, I would know a little more about myself and what career is right for me. Internships are like free  samples at the grocery store. You either end up going home with a new brand of  frozen pizza, or you have a nah, not for me moment in the freezer section. Gif via Tumblr / NBC What I ended up accepting was an internship here at the university  in the Office of Communications for Enrollment Management (basically, I work for Admissions). Im the Editorial Intern, and I am happy to report it is  not  all my nightmares come alive. I dont regret deciding to stay on campus for the summer, and for as many serious reasons as fun ones. Im being paid to write. I like what I do and the people I do it with. Im gaining really valuable experience. Im making use of my 12-month apartment lease. So far, Ive seen one of my  favorite bands live for the first time in downtown Champaign. Ive tried  bouldering. I successfully made slow cooker enchiladas. Dont worry if things dont always go as planned. I dont pretend to be wise, but I  do know that  things will work out with your classes or your RSO or your summer plans. You never know when an  experience is going to lead to something great, and if you dont believe me, believe Steve Jobs. College is a lot of things and a lot of things that were never part of your plan. Thats what makes it awesome. Maggie Class of 2017 After starting my time at Illinois Undeclared in the Division of General Studies, I’m majoring in English and Economics with a minor in Informatics from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. I’m from the relatively small town of Manhattan, Illinois.