Opinion: Internships are not the pinnacle of a perfect summer

Summertime is when students are encouraged to go out and do something.

The first week of class is typically the time to brag, showcase or, in some cases, embellish what you’ve accomplished.

The traditional idea of a “productive summer” can involve getting the dream internship, spending your time abroad or furthering yourself academically. Not doing so is often stigmatized and can make one feel lazy.

It is a privilege to have the “ideal summer” described above. And many students at UNC simply cannot afford it.

As unpaid internships continue to become commonplace, the financial burden placed on many students keeps them from applying despite the chance at gaining experience in their future career field.

And traveling, as anyone who has purchased a plane ticket will know, is expensive.

Both options can lead to great experiences, but neither option defines a summer well-spent.

There is no shame in pursuing prestigious internships or summer classes.

Conversely, there is no shame in spending your summer leisurely.

And lastly, there is absolutely no shame in spending your summer working to support yourself.

In elementary and middle school, summer breaks were a time to relax from school.

The summers we have off in college are likely the last long summer vacations that most of us will have. Instead of savoring those months of freedom, many students feel pressured to spend that time furthering their studies or careers.

Soon two weeks’ paid (or even unpaid) vacation will be the closest thing we get to a break.

Practicing self-care is another way to better oneself after a stressful school year. Traveling for the sake of seeing new places or simply taking time off to recenter yourself can have long-term benefits for the coming school year.

Education ought to be defined as gaining new fields of experiences and ways of thinking.

There is no justification for saying travel or internships alone are the only way to achieve this goal.

Ultimately, the more we can expand the context of an educational or self-building activity, the broader our worldviews can be.

Asking about people’s summer is a natural way to reconnect after spending months apart.

Just keep in mind we all have different goals we wish to accomplish for the summer.

Your summer should be what’s best for you, so reject the notion that internships are the only way to have a worthwhile summer.