Pitt students excited for summer break despite working summer jobs

With three more weeks until the end of the semester, many students are looking forward to summer break.

The 16-week spring semester is coming to an end on May 2. Many students will spend their summer vacation working summer jobs, but most are also planning vacations and spending time with family to make the most of their break.

Xavier Pateakos, a first-year statistics major, will study for the Probability Exam, a required actuarial exam for certification through the Society of Actuaries.

“[SOA] wants you to study 300 hours for it, so I have to work on that,” Pateakos said. “You’re supposed to study 10 hours for each question, and there’s 30 questions. You usually do it in a matter of three months. I’m taking it July 13.”

Outside of studying, Pateakos is looking forward to going back home to Massachusetts and spending time with friends.

“Most of us from back home went to college, some people are taking a gap year or doing community college, so we’re all on pretty different paths,” Pateakos said. “It’ll be nice to catch up.”

Ashley Tighe, a junior supply chain management and marketing major, is excited for her vacations to Charleston and the Outer Banks. When she’s not at the beach, Tighe will be a supply chain management intern at Universal Health Services.

“I actually just found out that I have to dress business professional every day, so that’s not great, but I’m excited,” Tighe said. “I just wanted to get [an internship]. It’s been really tough.”

The current job market is competitive, with unemployment rates of young workers and recent college graduates being at its highest since 2021. Many college students and graduates are facing difficulty obtaining entry-level roles due to increasingly demanding experience requirements and the rise of AI in the workforce.

Jaydon Paradis, a first-year natural gas, renewables and oil engineering major, is grateful for getting a professional job this summer through a co-op with Covestro.

“It’s related to chemical engineering, which isn’t specifically what I’m going into, but it’s close,” Paradis said. “Any internship that I could get as a [first-year] was an internship.”

Audrey Cupp, a junior accounting and supply chain management major, will work as a program director at a summer camp, where she will manage a team of people and expenses.

“I’ve worked there for a while as a counselor, and finding an internship was getting really hard and stressing me out,” Cupp said. “I’m excited because I like working there.”

Sarah Sloyer, a first-year psychology major, will be working as an EMT in Rochester, New York, this summer.

“This is my first time working for an ambulance,” Sloyer said. “I’m terrified, but it’s going to be so fun, and it pays a lot.”

Hannah Larimore, a first-year public health major, will work several jobs this summer.

“I work at a Dick’s Sporting Goods. I’m also house sitting for some people that I know,” Larimore said. “I’m going to hopefully do some service work with a homeless shelter near me [to] get more service hours.”

Ella Lauer, a first-year psychology major, will work at Starbucks and volunteer at a hospital for clinical hours this summer, since she is graduating early. 

“I need to get [my clinical hours finished] within two summers because I’m a sophomore by my credits and I’m graduating in three years,” Lauer said. “I’m going to have to hustle.”

Although Lauer will be working, she’s excited to go back to her hometown.

“[I’m looking forward] to not being here,” Lauer said. “I’m really excited, actually — being outside, tanning, frolicking, being able to cook my own food. I don’t want to be [on campus] anymore.”

Cupp is excited to not have homework or deadlines because she “needs free time.” Phoebe Trochimowicz, a first-year teacher education major, is also looking forward to the lack of academic stress and going to the beach.

“I’m excited to have a solid few stress-free months — no academic stress happening,” Trochimowicz said. “I’m going to go to Avalon Beach a lot with friends.”

Charlotte Cavallone, a first-year pre-education major, is also working several jobs — babysitting, lifeguarding and tutoring. Although her summer will be busy with work, Cavallone is excited to go back home to New Jersey.

“I love how nature-y it is back home and how I can actually spend time outside and go on walks with my dogs,” Cavallone said. “As much as I love it here because it’s so different from back home, [I’m looking forward to] seeing my family and getting to spend time at home.”