Designing a Meaningful Summer Experience

Winter weather has been crazy here on the East Coast, and while we are certainly still in the thick of the season, summer seems ages away. But for busy high schoolers and their families, the time is NOW to start thinking about summer plans. I know, I know… the academic year can get so packed, and so stressful, that most of us really need a breather by June and the chance to relax for a few months. You should definitely take some time to rest and recharge and dare I say it, have some fun over the summer! But, for those with their sights set on selective colleges, or others simply interested in personal development, solely working on your tan for three months probably isn’t going to cut it. There are ways to have fun AND make the most of your “time off” to explore, develop, and make an impact over the summer. Here are just a few options to consider:

• Get a part-time job (or a full-time job!) – scooping ice cream, mowing lawns, serving as a camp counselor, folding clothes in a retail store…besides the obvious benefit of making some extra cash for personal use or college savings, working a job (full-time in summer or part-time based on your schedule) has a myriad of benefits that happen to look awesome on a college application. Your willingness to slug it out doing something unglamorous shows grit and solid work ethic, managing your hours and responsibilities demonstrates maturity, and the ability to get along with others (bosses, co-workers, customers, etc.) develops solid interpersonal skills. And summer jobs can actually be a lot of fun!

• Seek an internship or job shadowing experience – curious about certain careers or occupations? The best way to learn more is to experience a job firsthand. While internships are not always available for high school students, the most proactive and convincing students have been known to “create their own” internship projects at organizations that interest them. You’ll have to convince a hiring manager that you’ll add value, of course, and that in and of itself is an important experience. Seek out contacts from your existing network (think parents’ friends, friends’ parents, community members, etc.) and see if they’d be willing to take on a hardworking student for a few weeks, days, or even a few hours as a job shadowing experience. Even informational interviews can lend insights. You’ll gain valuable insight into “a day in the life” of a particular role or organization and the chance to “try on” a role for size.

• Volunteer – odds are that someone, or some group of people, in your community (or surrounding communities) could use your help. Put your skills and energy to work for a cause you feel drawn to. Whether a pre-organized activity or volunteer program, or an organically created opportunity you arrange yourself, you are bound to gain great perspective by spending your time in this way.

• Enroll in a class / attend a specialty program – ever consider learning something just for fun? Curious about computer programming? Graphic design? Chinese? Eager to deepen your technical skills in engineering? Look for classes or academic programs that can help you explore new interests or refine existing capabilities. Many large college campuses have specialty residency programs that can also give you a taste of life on-campus. These can certainly be valuable, but they are often expensive, and please do not be misled that attending an on-campus summer course will help increase your chances of admissions to that particular college – they are solely developmental in nature. Your local community college, or community organization, may offer similar options that will be just as valuable from a learning perspective.

• Take on an independent project – want to apply your newly acquired statistics skills to an area that interests you? Curious about exploring environmental science concepts in your vacation town? Want to research a cool topic even further? An independent project may be the way to go. Talk to your current teachers about your ideas and they’ll likely be able to help you design something that will keep you engaged academically and provide a unique opportunity to create your own intellectual experience based on your emerging academic passions. An outstanding way to demonstrate your intellectual curiosity to colleges!

• Reflect and journal – you’ve probably been through a lot this year. Academic trials, physical pursuits, social and psychological challenges are all a normal part of any high schooler’s year. How have you grown? What has been surprising? What has been inspiring? Use the summer to reflect on all you’ve done and what it means to your personal development. Better yet, journal about your thoughts…it is both cathartic AND great material for future essays (ahem, rising seniors, I’m looking at you to get working on these!!)

• Recharge and have fun – I don’t mean to diminish the importance of taking a break. Summer should not be solely about beefing up your resume for college. It’s a time to make memories with friends and families, let the sun warm your face, laugh a little bit louder, and create unforgettable adventures. Please have some fun!

So what’s on your summer adventure list? Consider this your mid-winter “nudge” to start thinking about it now, exploring your options, and solidifying plans by spring so you’re not shut out of your top choices.

Happy Summer!