Summer is here, and you may be looking forward to binge-watching that drama series your friends have been talking about all year long, or perhaps you’ll be traveling somewhere interesting. And you have indeed earned some well-deserved downtime. But summer should also be when you explore, learn, earn, or do some-thing to enrich your experiences, especially if you’re keen to expand your knowledge in an area of interest. Below are some ideas to consider working into your summer plans:
- Volunteer in your community. You can start by looking at volunteermatch.com, or contacting your local library, park services, or YMCA. Better yet – volunteer to do something for a group you’re already involved with! It’s an easy way to showcase your leadership skills, and to show commitment. Volunteer work can take even just a few hours per week – leaving you plenty of time for your summer fun. As a bonus, some schools offer credit for volunteer hours, AND there are many scholar-ships available to students who volunteer. It’s also a great way to learn about your community, make connections, and meet new people.
- Start a business. Offer tutoring, dog-walking, or lawn mowing services. If you are tech-savvy, you could provide instructional services via Zoom.
- Write an article for the newspaper. Contact your local paper and ask if you can write about a subject that interests you or about someone in your community.
- Start a vlog, blog, or social media channel. If you have a topic you want to discuss or ideas to share, this is an excellent vehicle and valuable skill.
- Get a part-time job. In many places, you can legally work starting at age 14. Experience gained from working a paid job is a invaluable, and shows colleges that you can handle responsibility and succeed in a real-world environment. (And you earn some money!)
- Do some research. Contact professors who teach in a field where you have interest, or ask your parents or friends if they know anyone who could connect you with a researcher. Or dive into your own research!
- Start SAT/ACT prep. Khan Academy offers free online SAT/ACT prep. You can also prepare using various online tools and test prep books (like Kaplan, Barron’s, Princeton Review, Black Book, and College Board’s Official Guide).
- Travel. There are travel programs specifically for high school students that focus on language immersion, volunteering, research, and more. But even travel with your family can be a learning experience. Visiting new areas of the country or going abroad will expose you to new foods, people, needs, beliefs, and culture.
- Learn a new language. Learning a new language proves your capacity to take on new challenges, and it makes you an asset to any team. Enroll in a language class, participate in a language immersion program, or use language apps such as Duolingo, Rosetta Stone, or Babbel.
- Enroll in a pre-college summer program. The majority of these programs start accepting applications in early spring, but some have rolling admissions and may accept students into the summer months
- Visit colleges and take campus tours. If your parents can’t take you to visit colleges, go online and do virtual campus tours.
- Take an online course or a course at a college. Use these learning opportunities to prepare for a challenging upcoming high school course (which shows commitment to learning), or to delve into a topic about which you are passionate or curious! It’s a low-stress way to learn about something new without having to worry about grades. (Although you may be able to earn credit for these classes in some cases!) There are lots of online options, including free programs at Coursera, Alison, edX, and Khan Academy.
- Intern or job-shadow. Internships give you an idea of what it’s like to have a full-time job, and the opportunity to familiarize yourself with different work environments. You’ll learn what suits you, build valuable professional skills, form connections and gain professional references, improve soft skills, and strengthen your college application. Job-shadowing can be less stressful than an internship or a job and involves less time commitment. It’s an opportunity to experience a professional setting and see what it’s like to work in a particular field. These are easy to put together at the last minute, and won’t have to take up much time (they’re often only a day or two in length).
- Get creative. Learn a new skill or lean into an existing hobby. Colleges place high value on creativity, as it shows that you can think outside of the box, and that you’re innovative and flexible when faced with challenges and opportunities. If your interest can relate to your future field of study, all the better. Want to be a filmmaker? Try writing a script and producing a film. Interested in graphic design? Create logos or design a website. Direct a play, join a band, learn to animate…The world is your oyster!