7 Things to do during Winter Break to Prepare for Second Semester ...

1. Talk to Upperclassmen

If you’re an underclassmen, a great way to get a head start on next semester is talking to upperclassmen. Ask them about the best classes, professors or teachers, and extracurriculars to join. Even though they aren’t much older, they are definitely wiser when it comes to all things school-related.

2. Look for Jobs

As the holiday workers start dropping like flies, new jobs might start opening up. That’s great news for you! Because after Spring semester is everyone’s favorite time of the school year—summer break! If you want to take any trips over summer, you’ll need money to fund them. So why not start looking for jobs over winter break, so that you can work throughout spring semester and save up for summer.

3. Read

Reading for pleasure is always a good idea. It improves your vocabulary and writing skills, and is a fun pass time that requires more brainpower and imagination than watching TV. Plus, if you are taking any English or Literature classes next semester, you can knock out some books from the reading list ahead of time!

4. Watch Netflix

Since during the semester you won’t have time to veg out and binge-watch your favorite shows, you might as well do it over break. So break out the Oreos and tune into your favorite show—guilt free!

5. Look for Clubs

If first semester you were all business and only focused on your studies, Spring semester you can try getting more involved in extracurriculars. Whether you’re testing the waters of intramural soccer or Shakespeare society—or both!— exploring different passions makes school so much more fun. But don’t go in blind! Over winter break, ask around or research what sort of clubs tickle your fancy at your school.

6. Practice Your Foreign Language

My mom always says “If you don’t use it, you lose it”, and she’s totally right! If you don’t practice the skills you developed over first semester, you’ll begin losing them over break. One of the fastest skills to deteriorate is language. But you worked so hard memorizing grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and everything else that goes into language-learning, do you really want it to fade away? Definitely not! You can practice foreign language by using apps, making flash cards, watching TV in that language, and much more! Be creative, and I'm sure you'll find a study method that's painless enough to enjoy.

7. Look for Summer Internships

You can never be too early in the world of summer internships. In fact, winter break is the perfect time to start looking and applying for them. That way, you can beat the rush as well as take time to really fine-tune your resume and cover letter.

Don’t get me wrong—I think number 4 is VERY important, but so is everything else. If you dedicate a portion of each day of Winter break to preparing for Spring semester, you’ll still have plenty of time to relax, and your future self will thank you! Are there any other things you do over winter break to prepare for second semester?