In addition to Harry Potter and all the other great movies coming out this summer (2011), there are other opportunities that can help you more in life than casting spells ever will. Personally, I am still on the hunt for a summer internship. Here are a few options for those Liberal Arts undergraduates trying to plan their summers.
Of course you can enroll in summer classes to get some credits out of the way and even possibly graduate early. Make sure to check out a blog post on summer courses recently written by CLA Adviser Tracey Melnick. You can also find a job to save up some cash for next year. If you plan ahead, you might even be able to find yourself an internship. OR, you can participate in LeaderShape!
For those of you who are unfamiliar with LeaderShape – maybe you’ve seen the fliers but don’t quite grasp the concept – I can explain a bit more about the program. I actually participated in LeaderShape and was the on-site coordinator last year. LeaderShape is a six day leadership program, the week after finals (May 8th-13th). It takes place at the Hartman Center in Milroy PA, about 45 minutes outside State College. Students stay in cabins and are provided with three meals a day (and lots of snacks). Each year, approximately 60-70 Penn State student leaders participate in this program. Participants are broken up into “family clusters.” Students work in these clusters to develop their leadership skills and discover the powerful leader within. Several team building, trust, and personality activities are played throughout the week after which students are encouraged to reflect on the lessons learned. This is an opportunity to network with other student leaders as well as Penn State faculty and staff who serve as cluster facilitators. To sum up the experience: with the exception of my allergies, everything was GREAT! It is, however, what you make of it. So if do not step outside of your comfort zone or choose not to interact with others, your time will not be well spent. The application deadline for this summer has passed, but keep this in mind for next summer.
The next opportunity I would like to discuss is Explore Law (future lawyers take note!). This program lasts roughly a week in the summer (this year, it is actually scheduled for the week after LeaderShape so you can potentially do both). Explore Law provides participants with the opportunity to go to the Dickinson School of Law and attend classes as if you were an actual law school student. The difference is that Explore Law participants get to meet with panelists consisting of practicing lawyers, judges, students, and the admissions board. Participants have to do some homework, but they will also receive help with writing skills and feedback on a mock LSAT essay. If you are wondering where you will live and what you will eat, no worries. This is a FREE program and you will be provided with housing and a meal plan. As a past participant, I can tell you that Michele Vollmer (the law school professor in charge of the program) is one of the nicest and most helpful people you will ever meet. I have learned so much about what to expect from law school and the legal profession and I have also been able to apply a lot of these concepts to my Political Science classes. The application process is not an easy one, and again, the deadline has passed for this year. But definitely think about applying in the future!
The last opportunity I would like to mention is the Penn State Summer Leadership Conference. I attended the one offered at PSU Berks two years ago. It was an amazing three days spent with Penn State student leaders from across the commonwealth. I am currently on the planning committee for this year’s which will be taking place from August 8th-10th at PSU Erie. Visit the Commonwealth Summer Leadership website to register! The registration deadline for this year is May 30.
I highly recommend all of these programs. And as I previously mentioned, they are what you make of them. The key term here is networking. You will at the very least gain a significant amount of helpful contacts from these programs. I hope that you make the most of your summer. Although the semester is almost over, take some time to research potential options to make your summer as productive as possible!
PEACE & LOVE ALWAYS. Stay Motivated. Stay Positive.