Regular school hours during the Fall and Spring semesters won’t give every serious student much time for fun and adventures, but summer will. Summer allows for great adventure, internships, exciting summer jobs, study abroad programs, summer camps, volunteering, time with friends and much more at UARK. These are some of the great summer opportunities in Fayetteville you won’t want to miss.
This summer was full of splendor and beauty, free from tedious homework and class projects. I experienced both the sweet and sour side. As most of my colleagues started their internship offers, and others traveled to their respective places, I decided this time to stay and study for my GRE exams and enjoy the true beauty of Fayetteville. It was an incredible summer experience for me. The five entertaining things I really enjoyed were:
- Traveling across the state – You might not have much time to tour the state of Arkansas or even within the town of Fayetteville itself due to the seriousness of regular semesters with daily assignments, quizzes and projects. Usually during the semester you won’t have enough time to stroll through town. But, this summer was my opportunity to tour the place where I have come to attain quality education, Northwest Arkansas. I just wanted to know more about the place, and not just be a mere student who passed by. I took a little adventure to Devil’s Den, Buffalo River for canoeing, and the Arkansas Music Pavilion concert complete with fireworks with friends. It was fantastic.
Hiking Devil’s Den
- Like a movie star – This summer I was as regular as the summer sunset at the various cinemas in Fayetteville. My favorite theater’s were the Razorback Cinema and the AMC Fiesta Square. Most of the movies I watched were late night like 9 pm to 10:30 pm or 11 pm movies. The movie prices were also affordable, ranging from $6 to $8 or $10 for 3-D movies. I was a star not within the movies, but rather, a star as a regular movie customer with my friends. In fact it is something I don’t usually do, but this time I gave it a try and I enjoyed it. It was really fun.
- Time with friends – I also had time for goodbye parties for friends who had completed their studies and were leaving for their job offers in new places or back to their home countries. We went for bowling nights, birthday dinners and played games like Mafia and Uno. These I will say, were sweet but sour moments, providing both a sense of loneliness and belonging.
Goodbye Party for Rwandan International Students
- Summer jobs at UARK – Alongside my fun, I had a summer job on campus to make some money for the Fall semester. There are several summer jobs at the University of Arkansas from the cafeteria to the libraries that every student can get during the summer time and afterwards. This summer I chose to work at the Razorback Food and Nutrition Athletic Department. I was as frequent and punctual there this summer, like the daily breakfast for the athletics, so that I could make enough money to pay bills, buy other stuff and save some for the upcoming semester. Besides, I also work for the Recruitment Office as an International Student Ambassador during my leisure time. It is a summer opportunity you won’t take for granted.
- Time to get ahead – I also worked on my statement of purpose letter for graduate school, and emailed professors for recommendation letters for job offers and internships. I promise you that the summer is a good time to request for recommendation letters from a professor you admire or think can give you good letter of recommendation. This is the time they are more free and comfortable to write you a great reference.
Every college student has a burning desire to experience a true summer break after the long term of hard work and dedication to books, and I certainly enjoyed mine.
-Joshua, Ghana
