How to Spend Your Freshman Summer
As if navigating your first year as a college student wasn’t overwhelming enough, many freshmen are now faced with an even more daunting question: what should I do this summer? You have a wealth of different options to consider, whether it be volunteering your time, searching for an internship, taking summer classes, or just relaxing and preparing yourself for the next school year. Below, hear from Launch Exec as we discuss our freshman summers and advice we have to you all as you plan for the future.
Bri Delatorre, President
My biggest pieces of advice for the summer after freshman year are first, to reflect on what you really want, and second, to think outside the box.
Initially, I felt pressured to pursue a full time internship as some of my peers were doing. But as summer got closer and I talked to more upperclassmen who assured me I’d be totally fine without one, I was able to remove some of that anxiety. In fact, when I gave myself the space to reflect, I realized I actually didn’t want an internship at that point. Now as a second semester sophomore, I’m very thankful for the choice I made to direct my time outside of the internship hunt. As business students, we spend a great deal of time thinking about recruiting and what our jobs will be, and that process starts earlier for us than most students of other majors. The summer after your freshman year could be one of the last few that you have free, totally in your control. If you want an internship, go after that! But if you don’t, then enjoy spending the time at home with your family and friends, and don’t feel bad about it! I felt a weight lift off my shoulders when I decided I didn’t need an internship that summer, and looking back on it I’m really happy I gave myself the freedom to make that decision. I don’t feel that it has harmed me in my current recruiting efforts at all.
That being said, while you don’t need to feel pressure to find an internship, I do recommend doing something that you’re excited about and can talk about in a professional interview setting. This is the part where the “thinking outside of the box” I mentioned earlier comes in. The free time I had to reflect and enjoy my summer was exactly what led me to create Freshman Launch. I can confidently say that leading this organization has been a more fulfilling experience than a two month internship I might’ve had last summer would’ve been, and it still gives me plenty of material to talk about when it comes to interviewing and my resume. For me, it was founding Launch, but for you it might be a service activity you’re passionate about, a new skill you want to learn, or a project you’ve always put on hold. If you’re able to invest time into something you’re genuinely excited to work on, it will be a huge asset to your career search down the line. So whatever that is, get creative and go after it!
Saskia Reford, Director of External Communications
After my Freshman year, I had planned to work at a law firm in Dallas that dealt with foreclosures. However, when the pandemic hit, they told me that the business had gone completely virtual, and they did not need an intern. I knew I wanted to be productive over the summer, so I reached out to my favorite professor and asked if he had anything I could help with. Professors have to constantly publish, and they almost always need help with research. I spent my summer researching the connection between bail and racial inequity. It was an amazing experience, and I loved doing it! I also took two classes, one in each of the summer term. I highly recommend taking classes over the summer, especially if you need a language requirement. Language classes are usually 5-hour credit classes, so they can be very hard to fit in your schedule. Finally, I needed some money as researching is unpaid, so I became an SAT tutor. Most SAT tutoring companies will hire you just based on your SAT score, so it is really easy job to find. My advice is to stay busy and try to make your life easier for Sophomore fall. I was able to come in with an extra ten hours under my belt and some cash! Also, do not be afraid to ask for help! Professors are here for you and want you to succeed. Do not put pressure on yourself to get the perfect internship but take the summer as a chance to grow and learn.
Luisa Dalton, Director of Internal Communications
My freshman summer was a time for me to relax, hang out with family and friends and do a small internship. I did a marketing internship with Bhoomi, a sugar-cane water start-up based out of Austin, Texas. The pandemic was in full force my freshman summer, and I knew that I had some extra free time on my hands, so I reached out to a contact I had made at Bhoomi and asked if they could use a summer intern! It was so exciting for me to be able to help out such a unique company. Additionally, I also spent the summer touching up and updating all of my resumes and my LinkedIn profile- I even made my own website! All of this early work made applying to internships for the summer of 2021 so much easier. No matter what you do with your summer you will be okay, as long as you are able to be productive in some capacity!
Christopher McDonald, Director of Finance
Take advantage of the summer after your freshman year! Find something you are interested in, whether that is a class, study abroad, research, or an internship -- anything you want to learn about, go do that in a low-stress way. Obviously, with COVID, opportunities can seem scarce and it can be hard to find things to do; use the network you have (especially UT upperclassmen!) for help. If you show your excitement about an opportunity, most people will love to help you!
Anya Kacker, Director of Marketing
When it comes to deciding how to spend the summer after your freshman year, my number one piece of advice would just be to do something! Future employers and recruiters simply want to see that you spent your time productively, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to take up an internship or job if that isn’t what suits your needs best. If you still have some general education requirements to knock out of the way, consider getting them done over the summer by taking classes at UT or your local community college. You could also take courses online (look at Coursera and Udemy) to gain additional certifications or expertise in an area of interest.
If you are interested in pursuing an internship, I highly suggest looking at start-ups in your area. Opportunities at bigger companies are limited to begin with (and even more so due to COVID) and often restricted to upperclassmen, but start-up companies are always looking for extra hands. I worked at two different start-ups my freshman summer and got hands-on experience that I know I would not have been privileged to at a big-name firm. This is also a great time to try and gain experience in an industry or field you think you might be interested in -- you’ll either prove yourself right and gain confidence that you’re on the right track, or learn your interests are different than you originally thought before you invested too much time and effort.
More than anything, summer is a great time to rest and regroup for the school year ahead of you. Freshman year can be hard and exhausting at times, and you want to head into your sophomore year well-rested and ready to tackle a new set of challenges and opportunities. Whatever other responsibilities you take on, be sure to set aside time to see friends and family, incorporate self-care, and just relax. You might also consider looking ahead at courses and extracurriculars for the fall to see how you can best set yourself up for success. For example, I took some time my freshman summer to learn basic Python programming skills as I knew that this would help in my MIS 304 class (a Python-based programming course) I was registered to take in the fall.
We hope you find this advice helpful as you begin to plan your upcoming summer and navigate potential opportunities! Remember, summer break is supposed to be just that - a break! - so whatever you decide to do, make sure part of your plan includes kicking back and binging a favorite Netflix series or spending time with loved ones. If you feel like you have further questions or could use additional guidance, don’t hesitate to reach out to an exec board member.