Summer is a time of relaxation, especially for those in school--we truly have it made. Those three full months off are nice to relax, rest, and recharge for the upcoming year ahead. Three months seem long yet so short at the same time. No matter your major or school you attend, school, in general, is a struggle at times and quite difficult. There are finals, papers, projects, quizzes, and tests that completely suck the life out of you. Just when you think you have a little energy left, there is light at the end of the tunnel. That light at the end of the tunnel is summer, and it is right around the corner from you. While it is good to relax some, it is an even better thing you do not relax too much and find yourself with nothing to do during the summer.
If you find yourself in the position of not traveling the world, working or doing an internship, it may be wise to consider summer school. Many of my friends, myself included, are in the position of being “transfers". Not all of our classes transferred with us, leaving us to complete extra credits to graduate on time. While at first I dreaded this, I now see it a challenge worth tackling. Summer school can allow you to take that one insanely difficult math class you have been dreading to take during the year. There is no better time than during the summer when things slow down for you to take a few difficult classes to take the load off yourself during the actual school year.
Another benefit of summer school (most schools allow this) is the ability to take classes at a community college or another school closer to home that could be less expensive for you. There is less room for error and potentially the class will not be graded as hard as compared to during the actual school year. For some, a huge benefit of summer school is getting the chance to graduate earlier. Some students will double up and take a full load during both sessions of summer school to graduate early.
For the longest time, I saw summer school as the enemy. It was bewildering to me why people would want to take classes during the summer. Now, completing my sophomore year with many more credits to tackle, I see why people do take classes during the summer! It allows for wiggle room you normally would not have during the daily grind of the school year. Whatever your learning style may be, the pace is more relaxed allowing for greater success, grades, and a boost in your GPA! Even if you are right on track with your credits, it is never a bad time to think about getting ahead and tackling more. It just might give you more room to breathe during the year knowing you have those tough classes out of the way!
