Emily Niebuhr is an English junior and an opinion columnist for Mustang News. The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of Mustang Media Group.
A few months ago, I spent hours every night fruitlessly searching Handshake, LinkedIn and Indeed. My computer had countless applications open, but none for internships I desired.
Students, especially at an academically competitive school like Cal Poly, are surrounded by the narrative that success requires doing as much as possible, as well as possible, all the time. And that’s impossible.
After considering my options, I decided to abandon the internship hunt and pivot to what I actually wanted to do — return to where I studied abroad.
Once I chose to pursue what I was passionate about, I realized my stress never stemmed from desperately wanting an internship. Really, I was worried about picking a path that didn’t align with my goals.
Life experiences, like traveling and meeting new people from diverse backgrounds, hold value that cannot be quantified by the black ink on a resume.
Summer without an internship
Studying abroad in Scotland last spring changed my life. In those five months, I found cheap plane tickets to nine countries. I collected seashells on the shore of the Tyrrhenian Sea in Sicily, traversed the ruins of the Temple of Apollo in Greece, explored Norway’s Sognefjord and found a home in Edinburgh.
All the instability that came with moving to another country turned out to be a gift. I built my own support network from scratch and met life-long friends while doing it. I learned how to turn risk into excitement, and that allowed me to unravel a clear vision for what I want my future to look like.
I began to brainstorm ways to return to Scotland the second my plane landed in California. When fall quarter began, I met someone in class who had also spent months living in Edinburgh through Worldpackers, an online platform that connects eager travellers with hosts.
Staying in an Airbnb or hostel for the summer would’ve been extremely expensive. So, instead of just staying in a hostel, I will be volunteering for one as a tour guide.
Alongside free board, the hostel provides one meal a day and, most importantly, a community of other adventurous travelers. Meeting people opens doors. I never would’ve discovered this opportunity in the first place if I hadn’t been lucky enough to run into someone who shared my love for Edinburgh.
Anyone can find experiences on Worldpackers and other workaway platforms, regardless of how much experience they have with traveling or hospitality work. There are many volunteering options aside from hostels, like farms, NGOs and homestays. Working Abroad is another valuable resource for finding similar opportunities.
What are other students doing?
ZsaZsa Gelfand, an animal science freshman, has taken a different approach to her summer. She’ll be spending three weeks in Costa Rica through a program called Loop Abroad.
“I wanted to do something with my summer, but eight weeks isn’t a lot to work with,” Gelfand said. “I’m glad I have something that can count toward experience in my major as opposed to just going home and working.”
Programs like Loop offer unique ways to develop universally applicable life skills and career specific experiences without the conventional internship structure. There are many similar programs that help students coordinate seasonal work exchanges abroad, like JENZA.
These can be pricey, but they help organize the logistics, like visas, work placement and housing. JENZA’s partner program, BUNAC, focuses specifically on connecting people with paid positions at summer camps in America.
Some students will be going home and working seasonal jobs, and that’s okay also. That’s what I did last summer. It’s a good opportunity to spend time with family and save money.
Victoria Rizzo, a business freshman, has decided to stay local with a seasonal job and explore SLO during its quiet, golden months.
“I want to be in SLO for part of the summer, and if I were to do an internship, I wouldn’t be able to do that because the summer is so short,” Rizzo said. “I really like the nature and being by the beach.”
Options of equal value
The academic year is busy, and it can be difficult to set aside time for personal research and passion projects. Two months is a valuable chunk of time to create a portfolio of work or research on your own. This shows initiative and can be leveraged during the school year to work alongside professors or develop a senior project.
Internships have a fancy label, but volunteering can be equally valuable and more accessible. Pacific Wildlife Care is a wonderful local wildlife rehabilitation center that always needs volunteers to help care for injured animals.
Traveling doesn’t need to be international. There are gorgeous national parks scattered across the U.S. and stunning places to visit in California. This summer could be the perfect chance to finally embark on that cross-state road trip.
Many national parks offer seasonal roles at lodges doing a variety of tasks, including food service, research and tours. Hands-on jobs, like trail conservation, are available through programs like the Conservation Corps. Coolworks is also a valuable database for a variety of jobs in beautiful places, ranging anywhere from Australia to Alaska.
My ticket to Scotland this June is one-way. I’m not stressed about the uncertainty, I’m excited. Summer doesn’t have to be a stepping stone on the path to a conventional career – it’s an opportunity to try new things and see new places.