Skip to main content
Special Projects Assistant

A woman is arranging sticky notes on a whiteboard, while other people are working on their desks and looking at the whiteboard.
Credit
Image from Unsplash by Leon, resized by the OLC editor.
Thinking about what you want to do during the summer now can ensure you make the most of out it!

While the taste of freedom from finals is sweet as the four chocolate bunnies you consumed over Easter break, thinking about what you want to do during the summer now can ensure you make the most of out it! Below are a few tips on how to keep your brain busy during the summer months.

1. Get a Summer Job

Getting a summer job is often one of the top priorities for students. If you are still in need of summer employment, try looking at Symplicity under the ‘on campus’ and ‘off campus’ opportunities for employment opportunities funded by the Summer Jobs Program. Career Services also provides advising for Resume, Cover Letters and Interview prep that could help to land you that summer job.

2. Volunteer

The benefits of volunteering during the summer are endless as they are an excellent way to a) Develop soft skills like leadership, communication, flexibility and working in a team b) Enables you to develop long lasting relationships with people within your industry and c) Gives you the opportunity to try out something that could be your future job. 

Current Opportunities Around Campus Include:

3. Exercise

Despite our reputation as the city that continually rains, during the summer months Vancouver is the perfect place to exercise. Studies have shown that regular exercise increases the quickness of learning and the ability to remember more facts and think clearer.

Great exercising ideas in Vancouver include:

  • Running or walking the SFU trails and SFU Track

  • Running or walking the Grouse Grind with friends

  • Hiking on the North Shore Trails

  • Cycling around the Stanley Park Seawall

4. Start a Blog

An excellent alternative to maintaining your academic writing skills is documenting your summer through a personal blog. Being able to choose what you are able to write about opposed to the pressure of writing is a fun way to keep up those writing skills and get noticed by potential employers.

5. Catch Up With Family & Friends

While the school year is used for studying, going to class, working at your part time job and attending club meetings, use the summer time to catch up with friends and family you weren’t able to connect with when you were in school and enjoy the perks that the summer weather brings!
 

Special Projects Assistant

You Might Like These... Volunteering, Sustainability

Iceberg Melting
What’s Your Cause? Polar Regions, Climate Change, Cultural Awareness, New Immigrant

Over the course of the past semester, SFU Volunteer Services set out to learn what causes motivate SFU students to get involved in their communities–either on campus or beyond. We collected information through the ENGAGE blog and want to highlight some now in hopes of inspiring others to think about what their cause is and how they can contribute!

Children playing hopscotch
An SFU student perspective on the Big Sisters Study Buddy program

You may have heard of them–you may even have an idea of what they do. But have you ever thought of being one? Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland has been serving girls in one-to-one mentoring relationships since 1960, with the mission of “enhancing the confidence, self-esteem and well-being of girls through supportive friendships with caring women”. Each Big and Little Sister match gets together once a week for at least one year. 

Mubnii smiling with her hands in an open position, in front of an aquarium
Health Sciences Student Profile: Mubnii Morshed

Heath Sciences offer students one of the most comprehensive and diverse programs, focusing on everything from epidemiology, molecular biology to political science anthropology. These days, there are many volunteer opportunities associated with the Health Sciences.

You Might Like These... Intercultural Awareness

Eiffel Tower
Five Ways to Gain International Experience

Interested in International Opportunities? SFU has many ways to get involved regarding volunteering, co-ops and mentorships. Read on to discover the many ways you can gain international experience while at SFU.                                                                                                                                   

A group of people are looking at a book
Working in the Non-Profit Sector: Addressing the Myths

Five panelists came to speak to students about how they ended up with their current profession, life lessons they learned along the way, and addressed the many questions students had about the nature of the non-profit sector. Here are the stories the panelists have to share with you. After sharing their educational and career experiences, the panelists addressed a variety of myths about the sector. 

Jenny Vo Headshot
How to Maximize Your Return on University Investment | Part One | Get Involved and Utilize On-Campus Resources

Have you ever wondered why you should go to university and what you have done to make your university life meaningful? Have you ever been in a situation where you have no clue of what to do with your life and how to start making every penny of your tuition fees worth it? Have you ever felt frightened when thinking about your future career? I was in the same position so I want to share some tips on how to not regret going to school and how to get ready to face your future!