School is almost out for the summer, and Bobcats everywhere are gearing up for summer travels and good times wherever they may be. Whether they are going home to their warm bed and some home-cooked meals or they are interning in big cities for the opportunity of a lifetime, it is sure to be a summer like no other.
Many students have been yearning for the end of the year, while others are not ready to leave Athens just yet. With new friends, relationships and Court Street being left behind, there are certainly many things students will miss when they are home.
Mandilyn Weaver, a freshman studying early childhood education, is going home to Urbana, Ohio this summer. She’s excited to start her new job at a daycare and travel to Peru for a mission trip with her friend’s church this summer.
“It’s two weeks, and we’re going to be doing a vacation Bible school for the kids and doing skits and other things like that,” she said.
Weaver said she is sad to leave her friends at Ohio University behind but is looking forward to seeing her hometown friends and family back home. Additionally, she plans to go to a Big Time Rush concert with some of her friends.
“I think I’m ready to go back,” she said. “It’s gone really fast.”
As the school year sped by and finals are now right around the corner, having summer plans is always exciting to look forward to. In addition to travels and concerts, many students plan to take their skills elsewhere to work and intern.
Cam Lewis, a sophomore studying management information systems, is headed up to Cleveland, Ohio this summer for an internship on an interoperability team. He’s additionally traveling to Hilton Head, South Carolina, where he plans to get a nice tan and do some golfing.
“I think school has just been a lot,” said Lewis. “Especially with all the extracurriculars, schoolwork, finals coming up. I think everybody just needs a break so I’m excited to have that for a few months.”
As much as he’s going to miss his friends in Athens, Lewis said he is ready to head back home and enjoy some time with loved ones.
“I’ve been ready to go back home,” he said. “I’ve lowkey been checked out, but in a good way, I guess. I’m just trying to enjoy my time around the people I’m with. I would love to go sleep in my own bed.”
Brandon Shinkawa, a freshman studying strategic leadership and management, is headed home to Cleveland, Ohio this summer. In addition to the fun vacations planned, he’s also ready to head back to his summer job grind.
“I am going on a cruise in June to Mexico and Belize with my girlfriend and my family,” said Shinkawa. “That’s all I have planned other than just work a ton and make that money.”
Shinkawa is ready to relax and not have to worry about assignments this summer. He said he has been looking forward to the break since he got back from his spring break trip to Florida.
As the summer sun continues to tease Bobcats with the taste of freedom during the dreaded finals week, excitement is clearly in the air for everyone’s summer plans. With fun times and tan lines on the horizon, summer break for OU feels so close, yet so far.
