Many may think that because summer is right around the corner, students should be overjoyed for their break. However, many students are not getting a break this summer for a variety of reasons.
Oftentimes, students will take up a summer job. With the rising cost of tuition at the University of Idaho and around the country, any extra income is beneficial. Not all students are fortunate enough to get scholarships, and even the ones that are might not receive enough to cover the total cost.
Between tuition, housing, food and transportation, costs can pile up fast. To add to that, students also want money to spend on entertainment, trips and dates.
Students end up in a variety of jobs over the summer, ranging from wildland firefighting to retail. Some require heavy commitments or involve interacting with rude and demanding customers.
Another common summer activity for students is internships. Students who have been accepted are going to spend the summer working at those internships instead of relaxing.
Summer classes are also another commitment that students make, either to get ahead or to make up for falling behind. Summer classes start May 12 and for those taking them, summer becomes no different from the rest of the year.
Students might also be doing research over the summer. This happens both in the field and at the university and takes significant time and energy. Because of this, many students do not actually get a break over the summer.
Several students at UI have dedicated their summer to work, internships and summer classes, reducing the amount of time that they get to relax and enjoy their break. Hearing stories of students returning home after a grueling semester to do construction or juggle two jobs to afford college highlights the strain that tuition costs put on students and their families.
Without working over the summer, many students will not be able to afford UI next year. For some, this is a hard pill to swallow.
As an institution, UI should provide more support to students who need it. The transition from being a teenager to a fully responsible adult only lasts a couple of years, and most of it is spent attending classes and studying, with summer being the big break to look forward to for most.
Imagine if students did not have to work to sustain themselves and fund their education. More would have the time to pursue internships and research opportunities, including ones that don’t necessarily pay. Or they could even relax and enjoy their well-earned summer.
Chris Sprague can be reached at [email protected].