Home or internship?

August 31, 2014

I’m torn between going home for the summer and staying here for work or a summer internship. I get homesick and miss my family. But I'm worried about not having enough on my resume. What should I do?  

I know the feeling. I stayed in Berkeley all summer last year. Although I learned a lot and made good memories, it’s been a while since I’ve seen my parents. Family is first in my opinion if they mean that much to you. You have years ahead of you to build up that professional and personal growth, not to say that you should procrastinate on it, but realistically this is the best time to spend quality time with your loved ones. You don’t want to regret the seemingly smaller things in life– like watching your younger sibling grow up or having breakfast at the diner with your folks. How about going home for a good month and returning to Berkeley afterward? That way, you get to eat both halves of the cake. You might not get to stay as long as you want, but a month is better than a week off during spring or something. Follow what your heart tells you. If you choose to go home the entire time, maybe promise yourself you’ll work extra hard during the year and be extra proactive so you can take time off. Good luck and hope you find that happy balance fit for you!