Summer vacation for young adults has many meanings. Their
activities are as diverse as the bathing suit styles being modeled
at the beach as teens tempt the balance between profitable jobs and
personal interests.
Many young adults are pressured by their parents to contribute
towards their expensive college education. But the nine-to-five,
minimum-wage job no longer holds the attraction as more creative
alternatives, which can be found and provide additional resumé
material.
One of the most unusual jobs I have heard of among my peers is
my friend Matt Sugihara¹s summer job selling cherries on the side
of the road, or as an ³independent produce distributor,² as he put
it.
Besides the sometimes long distances to selling points, Sugihara
claims that between the daily flat fee and commission
possibilities, the job provides the perfect opportunity to make
money while sitting outside.
³I¹d be hard pressed to make this kind of money at this point in
my life at an hourly wage,² Sugihara said.
In fact, he was so pleased with his job discovery (found on
craigslist), making up to $200 a day, he has even enlisted several
other friends to the job. But it holds only financial meaning and
he said he does not plan on adding this achievement to his
resumé.
³For what I¹m working on  cognitive science  it would not
benefit me,² said Sugihara, who is home for the summer from U.C.
San Diego. ³I knew there wouldn¹t be any opportunities in the area
in my field that would advance my resumé.²
In addition to selling cherries, Matt has also worked as a
server at the Bohemian Grove, making it hard for him to see his
friends who are also working.
Similarly, recent Harvard University graduate Tobias Snyder of
Occidental has kept himself busy this summer as a research
assistant for criminal defense attorney Steve Turer. But unlike
Matt, Tobias said that this job is preparing him for the
future.
³This is a good way to get an introduction to law,² he said.
³Plus, I get to come back home for the summer.²
Snyder, who will be starting Harvard Law School in the fall, has
had several other related experiences throughout his undergraduate
career. He has interned with Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey and held
another job as a research worker.
But he has found this job to be more interesting as he finds
himself interacting more with people.
³It¹s a lot more interesting,² he said. ³It at least involves
something real.²
Both Sugihara and Snyder agreed that summer is very important ‹
whether used to decompress or to supplement a resumé.
Recent El Molino High School graduate James O¹Claire has started
his work experience early, earning an internship as a production
assistant for the history channel during a filming in Graton.
³It was an interesting experience to see how they put everything
together and to see how with television shows, (production) is not
very planned,² he said.
Although he didn¹t find the internship as ³hands-on² as he might
have hoped, he said he realizes the importance of starting at the
bottom of the ladder, since experience will provide more value on
his resumé than education.
³All you need is connections and you don¹t learn anything from a
film major you won¹t learn in the field,² James said.
In addition to sending out several applications for highly
competitive film internships, James has worked at a bookstore to
supplement his income. He said he is realistic about his chances of
future internships.
³There are people that (apply for internships) every day, all
day before they get the job,² he said.
His most recent application was for an 18-day production
assistant for an upcoming filming in Graton  an opportunity
offered only to El Molino High School students.
Despite his several endeavors, he said he has found ample time
for seeing his friends, and said he feels that is a very important
aspect of the summer. In fact, he is already thinking about making
travel plans for next summer.
Travel ‹ either international or domestic ‹ has become the
perfect escape for students who are running from
responsibility.
My neighbor, Zack Frederick, spent a month in Central America
with his friend Josh Phillips.
³It was nice having no obligations the whole time,² said
Frederick, who just finished his first year at U.C. Davis.
With the main criteria of his trip being beaches with warm water
and financial sensibility, he spent two weeks in Costa Rica, took
buses through Nicaragua, went scuba diving, and then traveled down
to Belize.
Frederick was not deterred by his lack of educational or work
activities.
³None of us really pay that close of attention to job
preparation,² he said. ³I did school for a year, so now I want to
have fun.²
But Frederick said his traveling has provided a unique
international experience that takes him out of his comfort
zone.
³I want to experience life and see interesting and exotic things
that other people haven¹t seen,² he said. ³I read a lot about
global politics but it¹s interesting to be in the real life
situation.²
Unfortunately, my own summer has involved much less time under
the sun. I have balanced a journalism internship, a paying job and
two summer school classes.
Although some might consider this a waste of three months of
relaxation after a year at U.C. Berkeley, I have found the
experience rewarding, as I contributed to my transcript, resumé and
bank account.
As a Sonoma West Times & News intern, I have experienced the
newsroom with friendly co-workers in my small hometown of
Sebastopol. I have learned about a career that interests me while
contributing to my resumé.
Summer provides an opportunity for students to do what they want
‹ choosing their job, travel location or activity. But no matter
which activity we choose, summer can still meet our expectations of
fun.
