Making the Most of Your Post Matric Vacation

After you are done writing your final exams in high school you have about 2 months till you start university. It would be helpful for you to use this time in a way that will help you gain more knowledge and/or give your CV an extra boost. Below are 5 ways you can use your time to ensure that you don’t throw away valuable time that you will not get back.

GET A JOB/INTERNSHIP

The end of the matric exams coincides with the beginning of the holiday season, this means that many retailers will be hiring extra staff to help out during the next few weeks. A job in retail might not directly help you in your STEM career but it will teach you valuable skills that will help you excel in university and the workplace.

Besides you will be earning money. This will help you become more independent and allow you to buy any extra things you might need for university.

VOLUNTEER

If you are not able to get a job then volunteer; help decorate orphanages for the Christmas season, read to the youngsters at the local library or spend some time with the elderly. This is experience that you can add to your CV. It will help you grow as a person and show potential employers/sponsors that you are caring individual who is well-rounded and involved in their community.

TAKE A PROGRAMMING CLASS

If you have applied for Engineering, Math, Physics or Actuarial Science degree then it would be in your favour to learn programming before you actually start university. At university you will be required to learn Python or some other programming language in less than 5 months whilst also being expected to focus on other courses that you will be taking. Many students are not able to keep up and end up failing. Therefore it’s in your own interest to give yourself a head start.

You can either do the course at your local library,, if its available or you can easily do it online as they are a variety of websites that offer really good classes such as Code Academy, MITx and Learn Python. Most universities will teach Python so it’s a good program to focus on. You can always contact the faculty you applied to and ask what programming language they offer in first year.

WATCH TED TALKS

As you are listing all the series and movies that you are planning on catching up on during the two month break, be sure to include TED TALKS in that list. TED TALKS are short informative talks given by people who are experts in their various fields such as entrepreneurship, neuroscience, engineering and psychology among others.

These talks are very informative and inspiring and they are a huge selection to choose. If you watch the ones related to your field of interest, they might help you get excited for the upcoming semester and give you more information on the field that you are planning on studying.

uNIVERSITY IS FUN AND EXCITING BUT ITS ALSO A LOT OF HARD WORK AND LONG NIGHTS. YOU CAN MAKE IT MUCH EASIER BY STARTING EARLY AND BECOMING MORE INTERESTED IN THE PROGRAM YOU ARE GOING TO BE ENROLLED IN. THE LONG DAYS AND NIGHTS WILL BE WORTH IT IF YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND LOVE IT.