Make the Most of Comm Summer
Second years, it is finally the long-awaited Comm Summer that you have heard so much about. I know when I was starting my summer semester I had heard mixed reviews about it, some people told me that it would be the best summer of my life and others warned me about how terrible it was being stuck in class on a sunny day. If school during the summer sounds like the worst thing imaginable to you, fear not, I am here with some tips on how you can make the most of Comm Summer and make it the best semester yet.
Take Advantage of Three Day Weekends
Whoever thought of not having classes on Fridays was a genius. Take advantage of your three day weekends (and four sometimes!) and use this extra time to catch up on school work so that you have more time to enjoy those sunny days. One of the biggest tips I could give is to learn how to effectively manage your time so that you can actually enjoy your summer. The moments I remember most from my summer semester were the times I spent with friends and not the days I was stuck in the library. If you tend to struggle with this, I recommend checking out incoming WIBA President Paige’s recent blog post on 5 Tips for Time Management.
Explore Nova Scotia
If you are not from Nova Scotia this is a great opportunity for you to explore the province and act like a tourist. Nova Scotia is filled with lots of hiking trails, beaches and summer activities that no one would have thought Nova Scotia would offer such as surfing, and tidal bore rafting. Some of my top recommendations include driving through Cabot Trail, taking a wine tour at a Nova Scotia vineyard, and of course visiting one of Nova Scotia’s many beaches. If transportation is an issue, Driver Dave’s currently offers services to Lawrencetown, Rainbow Haven, and Crystal Crescent Beach and if there is another beach on your list, they even offer custom trips as well.
Attend Events in Halifax
On top of the many tourist attractions that Nova Scotia offers, Halifax itself has some great events happening in the summer. If you like ribs (I mean who doesn’t?) then you will love Halifax Ribfest, not only do you get to enjoy ribs from multiple vendors but there is live entertainment as well. Speaking of live music, one of my favourite events is the Halifax Jazz Festival. This is a six-day event and this year’s lineup includes artists such as Common, Bahamas, First Aid Kit, and Tim Baker. Last but not least I would recommend attending Halifax’s annual Busker Festival. This festival is over the Natal Day long weekend and consists of performers with talents from fire breathers to acrobatics and even comedy.
While it may seem eerie how quiet campus is during the summer, Comm Summer is a great opportunity to not only explore the province but to get to know your classmates – considering you are some of the only people on campus! But if the idea of summer classes still seems daunting to you, just look on the bright side, you finish classes relatively early, you have three day weekends and it's patio season!
About the author:
Kes Szymanski is the incoming VP Marketing for the Rowe Women in Business Association. She is currently completing a co-op placement with the Nova Scotia Department of Energy and Mines.
