By Adrienne Andros
At the conclusion of winter semester, students find themselves deciding what to do for the summer. Some students say staying in Provo proves to be more social, while going home and working is more economical.
“There”s a couple reasons I am staying here,” said Jennilyn Farr, 24, a senior from Salt Lake City, majoring in mathematics education. “I already have a job here, and it looks better to have steady work.”
According to Mary O”Neill, the assistant manager at the Student Employment Office in the Wilkinson Center, students tend to take on two or three jobs during the summer. Jobs are more available and students have more time to work. Students are allowed to work up to 40 hours a week during spring and summer terms.
On top of being better for her resume, Farr also likes being in Provo for social reasons.
“I like the independence of being here,” she said.
Berkley Kellogg, 21, a junior from Michigan, majoring in English teaching said that being in Provo is definitely more appealing “social-wise” than being at home.
But there are students who desire to get away from the Provo scene when they get a chance.
Anne Selden, 21, a senior from Shaker Heights, Ohio, majoring in elementary education is going to Washington D.C. for the summer to work and for a change of scenery.
“I wanted to do something different than staying here or going home,” Selden said. “And wages are better back east.”
Aaron Johnson, 24, a senior from Kingsburg, Calif., majoring in history, said that sometimes leaving “Happy Valley” is just what students need after being here for a while.
“No matter where you”re at, if you”re there too long, you get blinders put on you and you forget about the world around you,” he said.
Melissa Wilckens, 23, a senior from Colton, Ore., majoring in international studies said that throughout her years at BYU, she has experienced both staying in Provo and going home for the summer.
She said there are benefits to both.
Wilckens said that going home she can “save on rent and save more money for the upcoming year.” She said that she doesn”t earn any more when she works at home, but she saves because there are no expenses.
However, staying in Provo has its benefits as well, she said.
“It”s much more social and a lot more fun,” Wilckens said. “But going home is more practical.”
