What to Do with Winter Break

What to Do with Winter Break It is finals week, and that may seem a bit stressful for students. However, winter break is just around the corner! Winter break is a time to catch up on sleep, spend time with family, and get ready for round two  in the  spring. The University of Illinois offers opportunities for a productive winter break regardless of where you end up. Productive things  to do over break include going abroad, taking a winter course, doing a job shadow, or maybe even attending a conference. The University of Illinois provides numerous opportunities for students to go abroad and spend time learning in other countries. I have not been fortunate enough myself to go abroad, but it is on the college bucket list. Many of my friends have had an opportunity to go abroad and have shared that it is something I must do! Studying abroad is a great addition to your resume as well as an opportunity to gain cultural insight you might not be able to gain here. The University of Illinois also offers opportunities for students to take winter courses. Sometimes during the course of your college career, you fall behind and need credits, youre  trying to get ahead, or youd simply just like to take a course for fun. Numerous courses are offered to students to help them to reach their academic goals. Being at home over winter break may put you closer to some top-notch work places. Some students spend their time over winter break learning about what careers they would like to have post-graduation. My academic adviser has shared with me many job shadowing opportunities available in my field. This could be an opportunity for me to grow my network and even gain some insight into the different industries. Last winter break, I was provided with an opportunity to attend a conference with the University of Illinois Leadership Center. The conference was the Leadershape Institute. It was a week long and was held at nearby Allerton Park. This experience helped me to grow academically, mentally, and professionally. I found it to be a productive opportunity for me to maximize my collegiate experience. Winter break should be spent relaxing, connecting with family, and enjoying time away from school. However, winter break can also be productive for your college career. In the past I was fortunate enough to have a productive winter break and hope to continue to do so. Immanuel Class of 2019 I am majoring in Agricultural and Consumer Economics within the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences. I am from the northwest suburbs of Chicago. I chose the University of Illinois because of everything it can offer its students.