Living Like a Local: Summer Blues & Professional Development
Living Like a Local: Summer Blues & Professional Development
Summer in the south is a unique experience. As we begin to see the seasons shift and the sun come out, in Tennessee that means increased thunderstorms, rain showers, and even tornadoes. With a turn in the skies and the departure of many of our friends here on campus, it is normal to feel the summer blues. However, blue skies are on the horizon! Once the seasons of summer storms pass, here are some summer phenomena to look forward to.
All Scream for Ice Cream!
One thing about the U.S. is that we LOVE ice cream. In fact, the only place that consumes more ice cream than the U.S. is New Zealand. According to the World Population Review, americans consume an impressive 20.80 liters or over 5 gallons of ice cream per person each year! Once the temperatures and humidity start to crank up this summer, this passion starts to make more sense. Sadly, many of the neighborhood ice cream trucks older Americans grew up with are mostly decommissioned. Luckily for us, a new frozen custard shop is opening in Maryville! Stop by to shake off some summer blues with a new sweet treat!
Take A Walk
The College Street corridor connecting Maryville College and downtown has recently received a facelift! The pedestrian walkway has its opening ceremony on June 10th. Check out the downtown Maryville page for events to attend this summer or just take a walk. The college woods are also a great place to do this. Studies show taking a walk in the woods and simply spending some time in nature has a profoundly positive impact on our mental health and wellbeing.
Volunteer
Have some free time? There are a lot of local organizations that would really appreciate your volunteer time. Check out some opportunities below to get you started:
Blount County Library https://www.bcfol.org/donate-time/
Second Harvest Food bank https://volunteer.unitedwayblount.org/agency/detail/?agency_id=122104
Blount County Animal Centerhttps://volunteer.unitedwayblount.org/agency/detail/?agency_id=122423
Find a job on campus!
Many college students in the U.S. use their summer breaks as a time to save money, whether to fund their school expenses throughout the year or to save up for future plans. Check out employment opportunities by looking on LinkedIn, Handshake, Indeed, or through connecting with Maryville College career services by making an appointment! Don’t forget to check out our guidance for on-campus employment as you consider the best option for you.
The career center also has great tips for job searching, thinking of graduate schools, and rethinking your major.
Get Creative
Summer is the time of hobbies and free thinking. Put that imagination to work! Start a blog, learn another language, create a podcast, get active, or learn a new hobby. One of my favorite things to do is get creative while I listen to podcasts or watch youtube in my target language.
Planning for the future
The summer gives you a lot of time to think. While this can be overwhelming, it is easier to start planning before classes and extracurricular activities begin. Let yourself consider your options by seeking out podcasts, influencers, resources, and blogs that you find inspiring and helpful. When I was a student that meant at least one hour a day searching for internships, study abroad opportunities, or funded opportunities to pursue my own interests. Start by defining your goals, and let your research extend from there.
Professional Planning Strategies:
Know what career field you want to pursue? Find the search terms/key terminology in positions most interesting to you and save searches to email you job alerts on LinkedIn, Handshake, Indeed, etc.
Update your resume! Your resume is often the first impression a future employer gets of you. Make sure yours is polished, error free, and reflects your academic, professional, and extracurricular accomplishments. Pro tip: I designed my resume on Canva, and it is one way I show future employers from my initial interest that I bring proficiency in that platform.
Lack personal connections but interested in a particular opportunity? Search who has achieved this opportunity on LinkedIn and learn from their experiences. Consider reaching out! I’ve gotten some of the best advice on pursuing an opportunity from people who answered my LinkedIn message request! After all, the worst they can do is not respond.
Schedule Coffee Chats with local professionals in the field you want to work in. Reach out to your connections–friends, professors, mentors– and see if there is anyone you can chat with. Professional opportunities are often dependent on connection, so start building them now! Once you are connected, see if they are interested in a “coffee chat.” A “coffee chat” can involve coffee or not, but is typically a 15-30 minute networking meeting where you can ask about career advice. Zoom is a great way to meet with people if they cannot find the time in person. If you’re navigating meetings across time zones, World Clock Meeting Planner is a great resource.
Not sure what questions to ask? Check out this coffee chat resource: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tracybrower/2024/09/24/networking-coffee-chat-questions/
Additional Resources
https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/ice-cream-consumption-by-country
