Don't give up on the rest of summer. Resist going down to the beach to drink and tan. You'll only peel, get hung over, and your tan will fade anyway. Instead, use what's left of this vacation differently -- wisely.
Use it as an investment in your own career development. Most of us, if we're truthful, go through life trying to figure out "what to be when we grow up." So, we pick the first career we hear about and we stay for good. Read "good" here to mean "forever," rather than for the love of the subject. We do change, grow and develop other interests. In fact, most of us picked wrong to start with. We picked blind.
When?
Take time now to identify people doing what you think you want to do. Find them through the alumni directory and the career counseling office. Quickly make appointments to see them even for 15 minutes, or ask to spend a day (or more if they're willing) to have you just follow them around, shadowing them rather silently, while you see for yourself what it is they really do.
Why?
I managed a program that asked a group of people to name the most interesting work they could imagine, then to go out and follow someone doing it for a day. Some picked the job of investigative reporter. Others picked social worker, or some perversely picked their worst fears -- as the woman who picked waitressing. What they found out changed their lives.
The ones who picked investigative reporter fell into TV's trap of intense drama: They expected excitement and glamour. But instead they found quiet routine, even boring research.
The ones interested in social work were also in for a rude shock. Social workers do less hands-on helping and much more filling out of forms and managing treatment -- a great distance away from providing direct help.The one who laughingly chose waitressing had the joke played back on her. The waitress she followed worked in a local diner with many regular customers, so her job was mostly keeping lively chatter up, lifting moods, or giving a compassionate pat on the back when needed. The waitress did more in the line of what she expected of social workers. Investigation always leads to a surprise.
What?
"Information interviews" offers such investigation. Find someone to interview, don't begin with, "I'd like to know what you do on your job. Can I take your good time for my own selfish reasons?" Don't assume they won't want to talk to you, a nobody. You won't persuade any busy person to talk to you like that. Make yourself more attractive by finding a quid pro quo: "Since you went to the same college I am now going to, can I interview you?" Or, "The college director mentioned you as one who is successful in my field of interest. Can you spare me ten minutes to tell about your work, including the surprises and disappointments? I would come to your office at your convenience, of course, and I'd be happy to do return the favor."
The secret is it's hard to resist a college student on vacation being serious. And for your part, who knows what you'll find.
Make your luck happen!