Classes answer to boredom

I used to wonder who in their right mind would take summer classes when they didn't have to. With the possible exception of kindergarten through second grade (when school was actually fun), summer vacation was always a welcome break from the drudgery of classes, homework, studying, tests and just stress in general. Not to mention, it gave me a chance to catch up on my sleep and TV reruns.

Of course, somewhere around the middle of July, I'd tend to start getting really bored, irritable from having to spend most of my time at home with my family (whom I love, but who are best taken in small doses), and more than ready to find something to do outside of the house. And being from Macon, my options of things to actually do are pretty limited.

Now, I didn't really think about any of these things when I decided, very much on a whim, to register for summer classes. Initially, I had planned to study abroad this summer, since I figured the trip would be worth taking classes, but I didn't get my application turned in on time. So somewhere between the application deadline and summer registration, I got the crazy notion that taking summer classes and staying in Atlanta over the summer might be better than vegetating in Macon for three months. As it turns out, my crazy notion wasn't so crazy after all. Summer classes are a lot more laid back than classes during the regular school year. Somehow, despite taking the same number of hours as I did in the spring, I'm not nearly as bogged down, and I have a lot more free time-so I can still catch up on my TV reruns. Not to mention, it's the middle of July and I'm not bored out of my mind.

So I've learned that taking summer classes when you don't have to isn't so crazy after all. In fact, I'd wager to say that it's a lot better than taking classes during the rest of the year. Actually, I recommend that everyone take a summer semester at least once. There's something almost fun about it (unless you get stuck taking DSP, thermo or something equally nasty, in which case you have my condolences). Summer is a good time to take some of those core requirements or humanities electives-you get them out of the way, they're more laid back, and some are even easier than they are during the rest of the year. And as a bonus, you get to enjoy a summer in the city.

Taking a summer semester doesn't even necessarily mean giving up taking a vacation, either. Unless you're a co-op student, you don't even have to take a full load, so you could take a week off without missing much at all. Or you could take short session classes, which end at the beginning of July, leaving you the rest of the summer to do whatever you want -the best of both worlds.

As much as I've (dare I say it) enjoyed sticking around for the summer, I have had to sacrifice a few things I normally would have done had I not taken classes. For one, I haven't gotten to spend nearly as much time with my friends from home as I would like. I've had to pass on quite a few party invitations in lieu of studying or homework. For another, there has been very little catching up on sleep. Not to mention, I got ridiculously sick the first several weeks of the semester and didn't have the time or ability to immediately see a doctor that could actually do something for me. Of course the root of that gripe is another editorial for another time. Once I was well, though, things got on track, and I got to enjoy myself a little, partaking of summer campus events and spending time with friends who live at and around Tech. One more piece of advice for the summer semester: if you live on campus and have some other means to feed yourself regularly, don't bother with a meal plan. The dining halls have diminished selection and service during the summer and a meal plan is hardly worth it unless you absolutely can't cook. I made that mistake and pretty much wasted 500-some dollars on a meal plan that I've only used about five times.

So let's recap: everyone should take a summer semester at some point. If you can, take an easy load-don't get so wrapped up in schoolwork that you can't enjoy the summer a little. Find balance. Don't get sick. Partake of what both the campus and the city have to offer. Don't bother with a meal plan unless you can't cook at all. Yup. That about covers it. I still love my breaks as much as the next person, but I figure I'd better start easing myself into the idea of not getting as many. After all, unless you're a teacher, there are no summer vacations in the professional world, and said world is sneaking up on me fast.