Being a college student can be very stressful. The school year can drain you of energy. Most of the time you are trying to maintain a balance between classwork, time in class and income or bills. It is important to recharge your battery from time to time. This is especially true during summer break. I take time for myself by indulging in my favorite activity: traveling. My goal is to see thousands of places before I die. I love history and art, so I try to plan out my trips so that I can take them during school breaks. I always pack as many visits to world famous museums and old historical buildings as I can. Of course, I love the best nightclubs and meeting new people as well. Traveling can teach someone so much about the world and it helps me to understand some of the coursework in school.
The Financials
I try and get a part time job during school so I can put away money for my trips. I decide where I want to go and then put a certain amount of money away from each paycheck. It doesn’t take much for me to live on and if I am really careful with where I spend my money, I usually save close to what my goal is. Another way that I make my budget work is by over estimating costs. I always plan for more than I will really need, so this helps me when I am short from my goal. When I fall short of my financial goal I borrow the rest. While researching different options, my travel buddy suggested a student credit card, so I got one. Between his card and mine, we were set on our trip! The cards we had were so handy because we could exchange currencies automatically, move cash around our bank accounts, withdraw money from ATMs and not worry about carrying dangerous amounts of cash on us while we were on the move. Before traveling, I would recommend doing some research to see which options could work for your travel needs.
Work Abroad
Working overseas or in a different country during the summer time can be an option for some students, as well. There are student or work visas that can be obtained, but these can be expensive; however, traveling to a new land and working there to pay for all of the traveling expenses is genius. There is no better way to take an extended vacation than to work in a different country. Every day will feel new and exciting. You can become a member at WWOOF, which can be a great resource for work if you’re looking to stay in one place for a few days. There are many job opportunities abroad that are posted on this website, and it is kept up to date for students who are looking to find a job anywhere in the world.
What to Bring
Packing for your trip is extremely important. Choosing the essentials first and then everything that you may want should be added last to save room for what you need most. It is important to pack for all occasions. Choosing casual clothes is good for everyday, but collared shirts make a good choice for dressing up a bit. Even some of the nightclubs overseas require you to dress up. This dress code should not stop you from having fun, so be sure to pack a few of these essentials. I would recommend bringing polyester clothes that won’t wrinkle and will dry quickly. These can be rolled easily to create more room in your pack. Since you won’t be bringing much with you, I would suggest carrying everything in one backpack. This can save you time and money while traveling through airports and train stations.
Using good common sense and some planning and budgeting will help you to see the world like I am and make the most out of your college experience. You be making great memories.
KC Owens has written and submitted this article. KC is a college student who loves traveling, college life, fitness and a good survival kit. He enjoys studying different cultures, meeting new people and leaving his footprint somewhere most people only read about.
