暑假刚刚开始，在一些同学还在享受悠闲假期之时，很多人已准备小试牛刀，踏上了暑期创业之路，发掘自己人生的第一桶金。

After toiling all semester on campus, the summer vacation has finally arrived.
在一个忙碌的学期过后，暑假终于到来了。

Unlike upperclassmen facing the pressures of job hunting or applying to graduate schools, freshmen and sophomores can usually cut themselves some slack.
不同于学长们要面对求职或考研的重压，大一、大二的学生通常可以稍稍放松一下。

But in order to gain the upper hand in future competition, more students are choosing to gain business experience and skip having a conventional summer of leisure.
但为了在未来的竞争中占据有利地位，越来越多的学生放弃了悠闲暑假，投身商业实践之中。

Xia Cheng began doing holiday internships in his first semester as a freshman. He wants to have a company of his own sometime in the future.
大一新生夏诚（音译）在自己的第一个学期就开始从事暑期实习工作。他希望有一天可以拥有自己的公司。

The 21-year-old English major at a Suzhou-based university partly made his dream come true this summer.
21岁的他就读于苏州某高校的英语专业，这个暑假他已在一定程度上实现了自己的愿望。

He has launched an express service with two other friends aimed at graduating students who need to send things home from their dorms.
他和两个朋友开设了一项快递服务，目标人群是那些需要把东西从宿舍运回家中的毕业生们。

“We don’t count on our company making money, but we want to gain experience for the future,” said Xia.
夏诚说：“我们不指望我们的公司能够赚钱，但我们希望为未来发展积攒些经验”

The trio have service phone numbers registered to Xia’s dorm and printed order pads and receipts with their company logo and names.
这个“速递三人组”登记的电话号码是夏鹏的宿舍电话，在订单和收据上印着他们公司的标志和名称。

“The more we prepare now the more likely we can survive in business after graduation,” said Xia. “I just don’t want to work for a salary.”
“我们现在准备得越充分，我们越有可能毕业后在这一行生存下来。”夏诚说，“我不想单单为了工资而工作。”

For Geng Li’an, his summer start-up came with a brainwave which provided extra cash.
对于耿立安（音译）而言，他的暑期创业则完全是受到一次赚外快的启发。

The business major at Beijing University of Technology is an early bird.
就读于北京科技大学商科专业的他可谓是“早起的鸟儿有虫吃”。

His project this summer is to run a fruit and vegetable delivery service.
他的暑期计划就是开办蔬果外送服务。

The 21-year-old noticed that many white collar workers are either too busy or too tired to pick up fresh products at morning markets.
21岁的他发现很多白领不是太忙就是太累，所以根本没法去早市挑选新鲜产品。

So he came up with the idea of a Taobao store for fruit and vegetables. Every morning, Geng shops in accordance with orders taken the previous night and delivers produce to clients’ doors.
于是他有了开家果蔬淘宝店的想法。每天早上，耿立安都会按照前一晚收到的订单购物，然后送货上门。

After a trial run for a week, Geng earned 400 yuan, which he reckons is a good start.
在试运营一周以后，耿立安就赚了400元，他觉得这是个不错的开始。

“The best part is there is no investment,” said Geng. “I just have to get up early as I always do.”
“最棒的一点就是零投资，” 耿立安说：“我只需要和平常一样早起就好了。”

For someone like Li Siqi, at Southwest University of Nationalities, her summer project is the result of financial pressure.
而对于就读于西南民族大学的李思琪（音译）来说，她的暑期计划源自于经济压力。

Li’s New Year resolution is to try to make a living on her own to relieve the burden on her family.
李思琪在新年时就下定决心要尽量自食其力，减轻家庭负担。

With friends she opened an English class in her hometown for junior high school students. For needy pupils, it’s free.
她和朋友在老家合办了一个初中生英语补习班。并向贫困学生免费开放。

“We can not only make money but also help some students to have a better future by learning English well,” said the 20-year-old.
“我们不仅为了赚钱，还要帮助学生通过学好英语来打造一个更好的未来，”20岁的她说道。

Lin Qian, of the student affairs office of Shenzhen University, praises students’ choice of giving up a holiday to work hard for their future.
来自深圳大学学生处的林倩（音译）对于们学生放弃暑假、为未来打拼的做法赞赏有加。

“Starting up a business on the eve of graduation is often haunted by lack of experience,” said Lin. “Some early business experiments on campus increase your chance of success later.”
“临到毕业才开始创业常常会因为缺乏经验而一波三折，”林倩说，“大学早期的创业实践则可以提升未来成功的几率。”

But Geng Li’an says that it is not necessary for summer start-ups to evolve into companies.
但耿立安说没有必要非把暑假的创业项目发展成公司。

“I just think running a business on my own is helpful for cultivating key skills,” said Geng. “Money is not everything this summer.”
“我只是觉得自己创业有助于培养我个人的核心技能，”耿立安说：“这个暑假，赚钱并不是最重要的。”