June 27, 2019. By Centerpoint Advisors:
Working a summer internship has several benefits to college students including career exploration, increasing personal marketability, networking, and tailoring professional skills for future employment. These career-building opportunities come at a cost, however, as most interns must give up their summers and work a 9-5 job, and some must even relocate from different states to be closer to their positions.
If this situation is familiar to you, there is no need to panic and believe your summer is ruined. If you find yourself working an internship in the Boston area this summer, here are five activities you can squeeze into your busy schedule to relax and make your free time worthwhile:
- Visit Museums: Boston is home to some of the best museums in the country, including the Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Science, John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum and the Harvard Museum of Natural Science to name a few. Many of the museums offer special rates and discounts for students and are open on most weekends. The Museum of Fine Arts even offers a special program for students at participating universities to gain free admission with a valid school ID. Visiting a museum is a great choice that offers a quiet and peaceful environment after a long week of work.
- Faneuil Hall Marketplace: Another great place to visit is the historic Faneuil Hall Marketplace. Faneuil Hall, which opened in 1743, is America’s oldest open marketplace and continues to be an iconic hub of entertainment in Boston. With several shops and restaurants, Faneuil Hall is a great place to walk around and spend some time on an evening, weekend, or lunch break. While you’re there you can even walk over to the historic Old State House and learn about the history of colonial Massachusetts.
- Weekend Day Trip to Cape Cod: Another fun thing to do is to take a day trip to Cape Cod on the weekend. The Cape has a plethora of entertaining activities to do, from going on a seal or whale watch to spending the day at one of the many beaches. Since 2013 the MBTA has operated the CapeFlyer line departing from South Station from Friday to Sunday, making getting to the Cape as easy as ever (especially if you don’t have a vehicle).
- Going to the Movies: The summer is a fantastic time for movie releases, and this summer is no exception to the rule with movies like Spiderman: Far From Home, Men in Black International, Toy Story 4 and many more blockbusters finding their way into theaters. After a long day at your internship, it is fun to unwind in the comfort of an air conditioned theater. Some locations even offer ticket discounts on certain nights of the week, so you won’t break the bank.
- Read: This may sound boring but finding the time to read as often as possible will not only keep your brain active, but will help with the transition when it’s time to head back to school. This is especially enjoyable in the summer when the subject of your reading is your choice, unlike the assigned pieces required throughout the academic year. Furthermore, there are many parks and cafes throughout the city where you can take your book if you feel like getting out for a bit without extensive planning. From news to leisure books, you can never go wrong with reading a few pages every day.
These 5 activities are only a few ideas of how you can spend your free time as an intern around Boston. The most important thing is to enjoy each free moment you have, because internships can be stressful at times, and you’ll thank yourself when you’re back to school in a few short months!
Thank you to Kyle Boucher for his help and research in organizing this article. We are happy to be hosting Kyle as our summer intern here at Centerpoint Advisors for 2019. He is a rising senior at Stonehill College where he studies finance and business administration, and is an analyst for the SCIFI (Stonehill College Investment Finance Initiative) Investment Group. Click Here to learn more about Kyle.