UPDATE: This story was updated on Sunday May 15, 2011 at 11:15 pm.
As days slowly finish thawing and the sun peaks out from its hiding place, summer fun feels right around the corner.
Around campus, students can be heard finalizing various plans for summer amid the chaos of completing tests and final papers. With such a diverse population, it’s certain that CU students have a variety of plans lined up for their four month break.
The Boulder Creek Festival, strolling down Pearl Street with an ice-cream cone amidst the backdrop of Colorado’s great outdoors are just a few reasons why students view summertime as a perk of attending CU.
Not all students will stay near CU for the summer. Callie Lardas, a 20-year-old junior communications major, said she is going home to work, after spending last year’s summer in Boulder.
“I’m super sad I don’t get to stay here because it’s amazing in the summer,” Lardas said. “But I’m going to go home to work for a while. I’ll probably work for my parents. It’s an easy job and it pays well.”
Lardas said her favorite part about Boulder’s warm months is being out in the sunshine.
“I definitely go to the creek,” Lardas said. “I don’t know if Red Rocks counts ‘cause it’s not in Boulder, but I go there a lot – and hiking – anything outside is pretty much okay with me.”
While many students will hit the trails and lounge by the pool, some students find ways to continue their favorite winter activities. Mechelle Little, an 18-year-old freshman pre-communication and Spanish major, said she plans to go back to her home in Louisville and spend plenty of time at the ice skating rink.
“I’ll be staying here, working and traveling a little bit,” Little said. “And I’ll be doing figure skating. I sort of compete and practice a lot and I skate here at CU.”
Summer is traditionally a time to take a mental vacation from academic stress. However, many choose to use this extra time to catch up on credits. Dominique Bixler, a 19-year-old freshman psychology major, said that she plans to do her schoolwork from her home.
“I’m taking some summer classes,” Bixler said. “But I’m going to do it from Red Rocks [Community College] because I live in Highlands Ranch. So coming all the way to CU everyday isn’t great.”
But hard work isn’t the only thing in store for Bixler this summer. She said that going home gives her the chance to spend time with the people she couldn’t see during the school year.
“My fiancé goes to school in Washington, so he’s coming home this summer,” Bixler said. “So I’m excited to do stuff with him because I haven’t seen him in months.”
With graduation being only a recent memory for many seniors, it seems like the ideal time to for a celebratory adventure. Lukas Eddy, a 22-year-old senior environmental studies major, said that he couldn’t wait to leave the United States and explore the world.
“I’ve decided I don’t want to commit to the capitalist society that is America,” Eddy said. “I’ve applied to several internships abroad in places like China and Indonesia. So if I get them, I’ll go do that, but if I don’t, I guess I’ll just travel and live on the zero dollars that I have until something comes up.”
When asked if he was looking forward to the relaxation after graduation, Eddy said he knows he’ll have fun.
“Are you kidding? I’m beyond excited,” Eddy said.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Stephanie Riesco at Stephanie.riesco@colorado.edu.
