So, it’s May, and you don’t have a summer internship yet. It can feel as if it’s the end of the world, especially when you scroll through LinkedIn and see everyone you know recruited for the next couple of months. Everyone, apparently, but you.

One of UC Berkeley’s integral characteristics is its hustle culture. Everyone strives for ambitious success, whether it’s work-related or personal. It’s both an encouraging and exciting environment to be a part of, but it’s easy to feel left behind, as if you’re not doing “enough.”

However, while an internship is definitely a fulfilling way to spend your summer, it’s not the be-all and end-all.

Coping with the disappointment

Receiving rejection after rejection in your inbox stings. You might wonder what you’re doing wrong and what you did in your life to be deserving of such disappointment. It can feel quite personal, but oftentimes, a company’s decisions are based on factors outside of your control. Maybe they received too many applications for very few spots, or they were looking for a specific set of skills and coursework. Maybe they’re looking for nepo babies. Them not choosing you is not a measure of your worth or capabilities, nor does it threaten your future.

While it doesn’t hurt to keep trying, what will hurt you is putting all of your emotional energy on an acceptance. Sure, in an ideal world, you’d be interning for a top company such as Google or Microsoft. But it is important to note that those who do snag these positions are typically the outliers. You often don’t see what they went through to get these roles in the first place. Even then, the most qualified applicants get rejected all the time. There are always others just like you who apply for hundreds of roles just to get nothing — you are never alone in this.

In the end, the whole point of an internship is to gain experience. Not only are there many different avenues to develop these skills outside of going corporate, but also you shouldn’t feel obligated to constantly stay on the grind even during a break. You won’t be unemployed for your whole life just because you took a couple of months off in between your sophomore and junior years. Breaks are also the time to revitalize your mind and pursue activities you haven’t had time for during the school year, which are just as important for your well-being. Here are some things you can do this summer beyond an internship!

Take courses and obtain certifications

Maybe not all of us are down to continue taking classes during summer break, but courses are a great way to fulfill school requirements and keep your brain churning — while feeling productive! These courses don’t have to be college-affiliated either. From programming to emergency care, or even AI fluency, you can take courses on subjects you want to learn and gain experience in, sometimes even receiving a certification upon completion. While they won’t give you the direct “professional experience” that internships give you, classes are still a great way to build up the foundational knowledge and skills you need to get these positions in the first place.

Be present

College has a way of gradually pulling you away from your childhood relationships. You come home for holidays and breaks, catch up on everything you missed, and then you’re gone again, slowly becoming a visitor in the place that was once your home. A flexible summer is one of the last long stretches you’ll have to be present with your family. Because after you graduate, life sweeps you up with schedules that never seem to line up. Simply existing around the people you love may be the decision you look back on in 10 or 20 years, grateful that you slowed down long enough to take it.

Learn the basics

The same goes for skills you haven’t picked up yet — the hallmarks of actually being an adult. Cooking is the most obvious one, and one of the most practical things you can invest time in. Maybe it’s learning your parents’ recipes, the ones you grew up eating but never thought to ask about. Maybe it’s learning how to change a tire or fix a headlight, things that never felt urgent until suddenly they do. These don’t have to translate to resume bullet points, and that’s kind of the point. Your overall life experience is something that shouldn’t be reduced to what’s professionally applicable, as some of the most important things you’ll ever learn won’t show up on a LinkedIn profile.

While it may sound cheesy, rejection really is redirection. Your summer is what you make of it, and that doesn’t have to revolve around an internship. Before you spiral into a LinkedIn rabbit hole comparing yourself to everyone’s summer job updates, consider some of the most valuable things you can do these next few months without a job title.