The school year is over; it’s time to take a break. That said, three months is a long break and summers are a great time to help yourself and others, not to mention bolster your college applications. Summer activities include, but are not limited to: volunteering, working, internships, reading, online classes, and research.
ONE: Volunteer
Research shows multiple positive benefits of volunteering for the volunteer. People who volunteer are happier, feel more connected, and are less stressed and/or depressed. Not only that, but volunteering gives you a competitive edge on your college applications and in your career search. Don't believe me, read below to see what a really smart guy at Stanford has to say:
If you feel compelled, check out these opportunities:
Wake Forest Baptist Health Summer VolunTeen Programs
You have the time. Use it to make a difference.
TWO: Get a job
There is nothing like having a job to boost self-confidence and improve time-management skills in a real-world setting. It is hard to replicate that feeling of seeing your bank account balance grow with each payroll deposit. Right now, is a great time to look for a job. From headlines bemoaning a labor shortage to the “Help Wanted” signs I see everywhere—I see no reason why a teen who wants a job can’t get one.
You have the time. Use it to be productive and make some $$$$
THREE: Internships
Although harder to come by than volunteer and job opportunities, internship programs for teens do exist. Most of these take some planning in the form of an application, but there are still opportunities available and now is a good time to look towards next summer. Check out the links below, use Google, and don’t be afraid to ask your parents for help connecting with professional contacts. You could also post what you are looking for on social media and apps such as NextDoor.
You have the time. Use it to learn something from experts in a field that interests you.
FOUR: Read
Even if you don’t love to read, find a book that can broaden your knowledge and challenge you to think. If you plan to apply to selective colleges and for competitive scholarship, the ability to talk in depth about a book or books you have read will serve you well. Books that you may not have heard of but that I think are worth checking out include: The Sunflower: On the Possibilities and Limits of Forgiveness, I Never Saw Another Butterfly: Children's Drawings and Poems from the Terezin Concentration Camp, 1942-1944, The Almond Tree, The Kite Runner, The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution - and How It Can Renew America, Untamed, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, and Persepolis.
You have the time. Use it to broaden your worldview.
FIVE: Take a FREE online class
There are literally tons of quality online courses on a myriad of topics from guitar to Java to medical terminology to Japanese to mechanics to math to game development that are free. Check out the links below and see what grabs your interest:
You have the time. Use it to learn something, just because you can.
SIX: Research
Summer is a great time to explore a topic or interest at a deeper level. Research can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be; it is up to you. If you are passionate about a topic and live near a university or college campus, you may be able to find a faculty member who is willing to work with you. If that is not an option, use your imagination, set a goal, and make it happen.
You have the time. Use it to answer important questions.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Summer is the perfect time to give back, earn some money, explore your interests, and invest in yourself as a critical thinker and a learner. While you could sit on the couch all summer and binge your favorite shows or play video games, I am confident that you will feel better about yourself if such activities are the exception—not the rule—in your daily life.
For more information on finding meaningful summer activities or anything else related to the college search process, please feel free to reach out at kathy@fineeducationalsolutions.com.
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