Don’t let the phrase “youth is wasted on the young” apply to you. UCD is beyond brilliant, but one of the most incredible times in a student’s life is the summer, and a student’s summer involves many options that you’ll never get again! Throughout the year you'll see posters and demonstrations about different options to look into. Here are a few;
Au-pairing
If you’re studying a language, this one’s for you! Think accommodation and a bit of pocket money in exchange for some babysitting and housework. Lots of students do this in Europe to improve their spoken languages. The amount of work you get does vary per family, so it’s worth putting a bit of research into this beforehand.
Work at a Holiday Camp
At holiday camps, fluent English speakers are in high demand. You could end up minding kids, organising activities or taking people on tours, but for a bit of included pay and a lot of sun there are certainly worse ways you could spend your summer! I know a few people who did this in Greece and Spain.
Working at Home
Ah the dreaded summer in Ireland. If you’re lucky enough to get a job at home and can save up a bit of money, there are a few destinations that remain popular with students year in and year out. Greece (think Mama Mia), Thailand (make sure you get the vaccinations!), and Inter-railing (Eastern Europe is much cheaper and still amazing) are all pretty good options.
With meals from €3 and a night in a hostel from €8, Estonia is definitely to be considered.
J1
If you’re enrolled in a full-time college course in Ireland you can get your hands on this four month visa that entitles you to live and work in America for a summer. Think California, Washington DC, Boston or Chicago. Think sun, sea and lots of Lucky Charms. Think a weekend away in Vegas.
I went on a J1 to Santa Barbara the summer after second year, and not only did I have an amazing time, but I got some brilliant experience. Eight friends and I lived together in one tiny apartment. I also worked as a reporter for the Santa Barbara Independent and as an intern in the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, which were opportunities the equivalent of which I can’t imagine I would have found in Ireland. That summer saw me taking notes on murder trials, brainstorming ideas for the launch of the film “Countdown to Zero”, cycling across the Golden Gate Bridge and fitting in lots of beach time!
Look closely at the last photo and you can almost see how close we got to Bruce Willis in Los Angeles!
Definitely five stars *****
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