Despite the nice-then-not weather that is no stranger to Oregon, the mention of summer may bring up images of sunny days, free time, revitalizing food, exciting memories and relaxing vibes.
As the term draws to a close, Oregon State University students are antsy waiting for the final class bell to ring, the anticipation building as they prepare their summer plans.
Along with finishing up his baccalaureate core classes, graphic design second-year student Dong Nguyen plans on visiting any body of water he can reach.
“I plan to go to the beach, meet friends, the pool, the river, all the water stuff,” Nguyen said.
Being a Corvallis local, he suggested an idea for other locals to use the summer to find and explore all types of foods and restaurants here in Corvallis.
Nguyen also talked about going to the river and Mary’s Peak as possible ways to explore the Pacific Northwest’s beauty.
“There are some nice hiking spots around here, but outside of that I would traverse more outside of the city to like Portland, Seattle, Eugene, Beaverton and whatnot,” Nguyen said.
A third-year in computer science, Mary Nansikombi also intends to fill her summer with nature and the outdoors.
“There are many hidden spots all around Corvallis and you can have a good time,” Nansikombi said. “You just got to get outside.”
Summer offers the time and space to explore the neverending opportunities that Mother Nature gives us through hiking, swimming and kayaking.
In addition to that, summer also gives OSU students the time and liberty to pursue their recreational passions even if they aren’t exactly out in the sun and nature, such as concerts and more metropolitan activities.
“Seattle is the best place for concerts,” Nansikombi said. “You’ll have a very good time, the weather is nice, check out the space needle.”
The long school terms don’t stop the heart from growing fonder with the distance and time that many OSU students stay away from home.
For this reason, summer is the opportune time for many to go back and enjoy time with their loved ones.
In attending school far from home, Nansikombi also has plans to possibly visit her mother back in Uganda.
Going back to our elementary school days, summer often signified the end of academia and the start of the three-month-long break that was dedicated to fun in the sun.
It seems that though students want to retain this sense of break from the academic lifestyle, they also recognize other ways to use their summer break to their advantage, whatever that may look like.
“Maybe look for some internships, but most of the time when I’m done with everything I’ll be like ‘oh, let me just relax and do nothing’,” Nansikombi said.
After spending terms focused on academics, the summer break gives students the time and mental capacity to let something else fill their plate.
For some OSU students, the summer is not just seen as a break from academics and a chance to relax, but also as a chance to get ahead on career work.
This summer, fourth-year environmental sciences student, Tobi Davies decided to shake things up.
Unlike their usual summers spent working, they are dividing their summer. Half of it is dedicated to work, but for the other half, Davies decided to spend that time participating in an internship that surveys a certain species of fish here in Oregon.
“I’m trying to get my job experience and then also just get some money,” Davies said.
Internships and work experience are not exclusively for the upper division students. In fact, summer holds a similar path for students like Aidan Bradley, a first-year majoring in forestry engineering.
With at least six months’ worth of internships already being a requirement for his type of degree, Bradley plans to take advantage of the summer break to do some of that internship work.
He plans on going back home to do an internship with the Forest Service.
“It’ll be a good experience,” Bradley said.
