The summer sun has finally come out to shine on Michigan, and we’re all glad for a break from the stressful, nonstop regimen of the academic year. For many Grand Valley State University students, that means we’re spending time with our families and working a summer job or internship. Even if students are working a retail job or are spending their summers doing something unrelated to their collegiate studies, the summer is a perfect time to add another skill to your resume.

With a great deal more free time on their hands than normal, many students have reverted to a vegetative Netflix-based state that many haven’t seen since winter break. While highly enjoyable, the Lanthorn agrees with Emily Doran’s column, “Staying sharp over summer” that this is a wasted opportunity. Students can take all this extra free time and learn a new skill that will serve them well in their future careers.

This could take form in the completion of the summer reading list you’ve been slowly adding to throughout the school year or by finally taking the first steps toward learning a new language, or otherwise engaging your enthusiastic and education-seeking mind.

For those looking for a book suggestion to get them started, check out the list the Lanthorn’s editors have put together on A6 of this issue.

There are also many opportunities to volunteer throughout whatever community students are a member of. This looks great on a resume, and can even lead to job opportunities in the future. Volunteering can pave the way for otherwise bored students to delve into a simple, curious interest and develop it into a passion.

For those looking to work on a particular skill, summer is the perfect time to work on projects that would otherwise be too time consuming. Whether the project is developing a website or learning more about music, a three-month break is a great time for professional development. It’s not too late to sign up for some classes at a community college or another organization that will help students have an even greater toolkit of skills to use in their future professions.

If students want to take a break from developing their resume, summer can be an excellent time to get those creative juices flowing. Take a painting or ceramics class, or learn how to play some simple songs on the piano. Put that GVSU liberal education to work, and make the summer count.

Any of these sort of productive and beneficial activities can add something to summer vacation time that will last much longer than your tan lines.

Education doesn’t end outside classroom doors. Learning new things is a great tool to developing and expanding an idle mind. The next time you find yourself thinking, “I’m bored,” think about something you’ve been meaning to do and, while you have the opportunity, go out and do it. Lakers are lifetime learners, and should start keeping that good habit now.