You Know What I Did Last Summer

Summer is fast approaching. If you're a student, that could mean a break from academics and a time for something else. What that "something else" might be is largely up to you: Will you need to work? Will you be staying with family? Will you take a vacation? Will you set aside some time to play?

In today's featured Boundless article, "You Know What I Did Last Summer," Jason Boyett shares a few things he did this past summer that've changed his life for the better:

Triathlon. Backpacking. Three-day weekends. All three of the activities above involve playing -- as opposed to conventional "work" -- but I think they taught me as much about myself as any college class or business seminar or productivity course I've ever taken. Funny how that happens.

I think back on some of my most cherished summer activities: volunteering in Colombia for a couple of months, working in an industrial laundromat near my dad and stepmother's home, serving as a camp counselor, going on a camping trip.

What've you done? What do you plan to do to make a difference?

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In today's featured Boundless article, "You Know What I Did Last Summer," Jason Boyett shares a few things he did this past summer that've changed his life for the better:

Triathlon. Backpacking. Three-day weekends. All three of the activities above involve playing -- as opposed to conventional "work" -- but I think they taught me as much about myself as any college class or business seminar or productivity course I've ever taken. Funny how that happens.

What've you done? What do you plan to do to make a difference?

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1. BDB said the following at 7:09 PM on May 14:

Each summer in college I worked as a Resident Assistant on Summer Conference Staff at the University. It provided free housing in exchange for being present and on duty at night, watching for fire hazards, etc.

Living expenses were provided by the (various) day jobs I had.

Man, I was good at finding jobs when I was in college. Always had at least three. Hmmm...

2. the most frequent Kate said the following at 5:27 AM on May 15:

I have had pretty good summers since high school and I agree that these summers gave me experiences and insights that I would have been unlikely to obtain while attending school regularly. I never made much money during my summers, but the experiences were definitely worth it. In a way I'm glad I was never able to find some kind of industrial temporary job that would have paid a lot of money, since I probably wouldn't have learned as much from that at all.

In addition to what I listed, I also made time to spend a couple of weeks with my grandparents each summer.

Summer 1: worked and lived at a Christian camp

Summer 2: studied abroad in Europe

Summer 3: worked at a different camp and lived with my parents, adventuring around northern MI with my now husband when I wasn't working

Summer 4 between undergrad and grad: live with parents and worked in direct care with people with developmental disabilities (my favorite job ever) still tried to adventure around MI but didn't have much time

Summer 5: attended a regular semester of classes for grad school and got married

"Summer" 6, now: working in my first professional job, going on a mission trip to Honduras

3. Leah W said the following at 8:25 AM on May 15:

Ha! I was at a church camp meeting last night. :D

Thanks for the timely reminder of just how important this is! it's easy to loose sight of that when you're in the middle of all the *little* details that go into making the difference between a good camp and a not-so-good camp. This brought to my mind what the really important part of camp is... keeping God & the kids the priority! :)

4. Tamara (from Canada) said the following at 2:34 PM on May 15:

When I was still in college, I spent my summers as a camp counsellor . . . and loved it. (Although seeing some of those who were my campers graduate from high school in the last couple of years has made me feel a little old;).) And even now, with my job, I often take som eholidays in the summer and volunteer at camp in the kitchen or maintenance or something for a week, because I know those jobs are almost as important as camp counsellors but often overlooked.

5. Christina (in green) said the following at 6:03 AM on May 17:

heh.

what did i do last summer...

this summer, i'm going to spend it getting to know my tiny little man and lose 20 lbs. the discipline it takes to go walking is termendous. I need to work on that.

in fact, maybe i'll go do that now.

6. Rachael said the following at 8:24 PM on May 17:

Christina, welcome back. And congratulations :)