As a student, you become more prepared for the next academic season as you learn from your mistakes and become a better version of yourself.
It's amusing to write this blog because, spoiler, I didn't do anything useful in preparation for my first year. But, since then I have learnt how to overcome new challenges and I find new qualities being brought out in me, allowing me to be more prepared for the next year.
Personal growth
I feel summer is the perfect chance to become a better version of. It tends to be the official self-care and personal growth season for people in their 20s. As students especially begin to pickup hobbies they have always wanted to try or they get to refocus on the things that they enjoy most. Taking part in these skills and hobbies helps to expand the mindset, for example, reading has no end to how much it can teach you.
Over the summer, you can also take a look at what clubs and societies will be available when you begin your course. Joining activities like debate clubs can help you build your confidence in terms of socialising or public speaking.
Personally, I used to be terrified of speaking in front of crowds. Once, I even went on stage and felt my mind go completely blank — I thought it was the end of the world but then I pulled myself together and reminded myself that I have to do this, I have to become someone I’m proud of. Joining clubs and having a safe space to practice can help you build these skills in a place of comfort, preparing you before you put what you have learnt into action in the ‘real world’, post-graduation.
On top of all this, taking part in such things can be with the intention as simple as picking up a new skill. Maybe a new sport, or learning a new language can be so useful; it could help make you friends from different nationalities and explore their culture too.
Academic preparation
It’s also good to do something that helps you academically for next year. Like, you could decide your modules early and check them out a bit. I remember I had first chosen Innovation and Strategy, but it really didn’t suit me, so I switched to Marketing. If I had researched properly before, I could’ve avoided that.
You can also just go through your old modules once, because honestly a lot of them are connected and every year they get tougher, so going over the content again helps to keep it fresh in your mind. And maybe even pick up a short online course — just something small to keep yourself engaged instead of letting the whole break go to waste. Or, research what work placements are available to you.
Taking a look at reading lists, even if you don’t have time to get ahead on the reading, can help you plan ahead and prepare yourself for how busy your schedule is going to be so that you can organise your time in advance.
Focus on your career
Honestly, one of the best things I did during my summer break was to start focusing on my career. At first, I thought it was too early, but looking back, I feel like it was one of my smartest decisions because it’s still helping me move forward. You don’t need to do something huge right away — even a small part-time job or an internship can make a big difference. It gives you clarity about what you enjoy (or don’t enjoy), and at the same time, it builds your confidence and sharpens skills that you’ll carry with you later.
And if you’ve ever thought about starting something of your own, this is the best time to play around with ideas. You could research, experiment, or even start building a little portfolio. Maybe take a look at Wordpress or other blogging sites and start writing your own content or using the space to showcase your work. Setting yourself up on LinkedIn can also help you get ahead of the curve.
None of this needs to be perfect — what matters is that you’re trying and preparing yourself for the future.
Once summer comes to an end
At the end of the day, summer is a chance to do things that actually make a difference for you—whether that’s building new skills, exploring your career, or just preparing yourself better for uni life. It doesn’t have to be overwhelming, but even small steps now can really shape the way your next year turns out. So, make the most of it and trust me, when September rolls around you’ll find that you’ve saved yourself a lot of work!
