With Thanksgiving weekend at a close and everyone back at school, the next couple of weeks will be a whirlwind as students and faculty begin to prepare for finals and host holiday parties. Since things are so rushed the last couple of weeks of the semester, it gets hard to remember what is important. Here are a few priorities to keep in mind this holiday season:
1. Study For Finals
I know, this is obvious and lame advice that you already know. But yet, people still cram studying into the 48 hour period before their finals, so it merits repeating. I know there is the age old debate of school vs. social life in college, but here is the deal— good grades are an investment in your future. They will get you more job interviews, and more opportunities down the line. Numbers don't lie, the higher your GPA, the more likely your resume will get pulled out of a pile, regardless of a company's holistic search process. If you safe guard your grades, even when you want to throw in the towel the most, your future job-hunting self will be so grateful you sacrificed a few beers with friends for interviews you worked hard to earn.
2. Appreciate Your Break
I hate to put a damper on the future, but I always prefer to know what is coming than a cold bath when I arrive; three weeks of winter break does not happen when you grow up. Instead of mourning that you won't have one in the future, appreciate the one you have know now. Be grateful for it, and get the most you can out of it, because these are the last holidays where you can enjoy weeks of free time without (many) responsibilities.
3. Ask Your Parents To Look Through Their Rolodex
It's never too early to start networking. If your parents have friends in a field you're interested in, ask them to connect you. The earlier you get started building your network, the better. You never know who people know. Offer to buy them a cup of coffee for a few minutes of their time to ask about their career. These small investments of time and relationship building could have a big pay off.
4. Apply For Internships
Summer internships are the foundation of your resume when you graduate. Competitive internships are game changers. The more prepared you are the better. Go over your resume and cover letter, research companies and their latest news. Ask professors for recommendations before you leave for holiday break. These are significant steps you can take over your break that don't cost much time, especially when you are not juggling school work.
5. Spend Time With Your Parents
As I mentioned earlier in this post, this is one of the last holidays where you will have considerable time off around the holidays. In that same vein, depending on where you go to school and where you are planning to live, this will also be some of the last time you will have so much time to spend with your parents. Life will go on, you will be busy at work, you will have a significant other you split holidays with, etc. Time will only move faster and life will only get busier and more complicated. Spend time with your parents while you can, because some day you are going to wish you had spent more time with them.
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