Hi everyone!

It’s been a minute! The past couple months have been soooo hectic for me with going home for summer break, getting my dream internship, catching up with hometown friends, and completing some spontaneous vacation trips. Even though the rest of the undergraduate student body and I are well into the semester, I finally feel like I have a moment to sit down and breathe which is why I’m back to writing blog posts for Experience Iowa!

Don’t remind me how bittersweet this is, because I’m in my final year at the University of Iowa (scary, I know!). Thankfully, I still have some time to write more blog posts and leave my mark as I complete my final year and begin post-grad life!

Before I dive more into what it’s like being a Hawkeye student during the school year, I wanted to give you guys a quick overview of how I spent my summer in preparation for the end of my college career. With weeks of free time, I wanted to make the most of my summer by prioritizing the things that matter most to me. For current undergrads and/or prospective students looking for some direction on how to spend the slow summer season, continue reading below!

Spontaneous Trips with Friends

Something I’m always down for (whether that’s back in my hometown or in Iowa City) is going on a spontaneous trip somewhere new! While I was back home, my close friends and I ended up traveling to upstate New York where we spent a day hanging out, swimming in the nearby lake, and celebrating the end of our semesters. The long car drive and the scenic view of the lake was exactly the kind of relaxation all of us needed after a hardcore semester, and this trip really put into perspective how important this next year is for me with prioritizing my friendships.

Since so many of my friends will be moving away once they graduate, I want to pour so much of my energy into my relationships and I plan on carrying this idea well into the following year! This is a standard I think everyone should follow before heading into the workplace, so if you have the free time, check in with your friends and see what mischief you guys can get into!

Furthering My Career with Dream Internship

This past summer, I was lucky enough to be chosen as a marketing and publicity intern at HarperCollins Publishers; one of my dream workplaces from when I was young and starting to read books.

I worked four days a week (twice in their New York City office) and I was constantly surrounded with wonderful publishing professionals and talented authors. And because I was working in book publishing, I received sooo many free books!

Overall, this was the ideal internship for me and I’m so grateful for all the experience I gained while working there. For those of you considering a summer internship, I’d highly recommend it! This internship provided me with the clarity I needed to know for sure that working in the publishing industry is exactly where I want to be.

My advice: if you ever have the opportunity to apply for an internship, definitely do so!

New York City Activities

I know I just mentioned spontaneous trips, but there were some planned New York City activities that my friends and I did for fun to spice up our summer!

Whether it was lunch in Seaport or admiring the Met at night, I spent a good amount of my summer exploring the city and having fun wherever I ended up. For those of you close to a city and have the funds to indulge, I’d definitely recommend taking advantage of a city’s endless resources while you have so much free time!

If you have the money and time, see what memories you can make!

Catching Up on My Reading

What better way to spend my free time than by reading all the free books I received!?

This summer, I prioritized reading new and old books that I’d kept for years, especially since I’ll be moving out of my apartment and my parents’ house in a year or two. Getting my reading done and donating used books are slowly becoming a bigger priority for me as I continue to carve out time to read across genres. If you’re wondering what my recommendations from this summer are, you should pick up The Late Americans by Brandon Taylor and Silver in the Bone by Alexandra Bracken.

While it doesn’t sound like I spent my summer doing too much, this was actually my most productive summer yet! I filled my time with work I am passionate about, friends I love, and stories that make me feel alive. Whether you’re a graduating high school senior or someone like me who’s nearing the end of their college journey, my biggest advice is to spend your free time doing things that make you happy! Because before you know it, that free time will fill right up again!

Thank you guys for reading my first blog post of the semester and stay tuned for more posts about my life as a Hawkeye.