You did it. You completed a challenging, exciting, thrilling and a very, very eventful first semester at Harvard. Now that you’re settling into your first spring semester on this beautiful campus, it is natural to feel apprehensive about navigating what you’ll be doing for the fast-approaching approximate 4-month long summer break. Fear not, for your favorite blog writer is here to help prepare you for the many exciting things you can do! 

An important piece of advice I would like to pass on is to not think of your summer in binaries – you don’t have to do one thing, and I encourage you to explore multiple different outlets during this long break. For instance, you can visit your hometown, spend time with your family and friends, do a research internship, participate in a conference, and travel somewhere new all in one break! In fact, your first-year summer is the perfect time to explore what you enjoy the most, develop professionally, and recharge after a rigorous first year at Harvard --- all at the same time. I, for instance, spent my first two months at home back home in Pakistan, getting as much quality time with my family and friends after an entire year. While I was there, I was also remotely interning for a fintech start-up in Dubai, gaining professional experience in the tech industry, which was crucial in helping me decide what I wanted to concentrate in. After spending a good amount of time in Pakistan, I went to London to attend the London School of Economics Summer Abroad program in Machine Learning. During the 6-week program, my travel and accommodation were all covered by Mignone Centre of Career Success Funding, which was absolutely amazing! I had an amazing time travelling across the UK, met so many amazing people from around the world, and lived my dream of navigating a new place all by myself!  The experience was not only intellectually stimulating but also taught me a lot about myself and my aspirations for life, as well as what suits me best in terms of exploring being in a new country. 

Based on my experiences, I have three main pieces of advice for the amazing first-years: 

1. Start early in researching opportunities at Harvard and beyond for professional experiences you can gain. Many employers, start-ups, research labs and programs are more than willing to hear your story and give you a chance at working for them, even if they do not have a structured internship program. Try cold emailing, reaching out via LinkedIn, and utilizing every resource available through Harvard. There are many funding avenues on and off campus, and the Office of International Education (OIE) and the Mignone Centre for Career Success are more than open to helping you explore them. 
2. Have an open mind. Even if you had never considered studying abroad, doing an online internship, volunteering at a non-profit or doing research over the summer, reconsider. Think about how these new experiences might help you grow resilient and learn more about your academic or future interests.
3. Carve out a good amount of time for fun! Harvard can be intense and challenging, and you need a break even if you don’t realize it. Try spending some time at home or find an outlet for rest and fun. Maybe go travelling with a few friends, consider indulging in a new hobby, or just spend some quality on your own. 

I wish you all the best of luck and the warmest (or coldest – if you’re in the southern hemisphere) of summers, and hope that you return back to campus in the Fall with the brightest smiles ready to debrief about your amazing experiences.