Plan for Summer

Summer time used to be time to relax and catch up on sleep for most high school students.  Things have changed a lot since our days of lazy summer.  Many students get jobs or go to summer schools.  Some take SAT preparation classes.  So, what is your son or daughter planning to do next summer.  Do you remember that I talked briefly about looking at college application forms?  In the college application forms, you will find a section where your son or daughter needs to fill out meaningful summer activities.  So, what should a high school student do during his/her summer vacations to make them meaningful, not just on the college application form but also for his or her future?  There are several avenues to go about.

Getting a job in a field that is related to the students interest can be meaningful.  Having a job teaches teenagers to become more responsible, mature and learn about the real world, outside of school.  Doing volunteer work is another activity to consider.  Find volunteer opportunities in the field related to the student’s interest.  Volunteering not only helps those in need, but also helps the student to mature and see the world with different perspectives.  There are also opportunities for traveling combined with volunteer activities, visiting third world countries, helping the local people and learn their culture and history.  Some argue that this kind of summer activity is not available to students from families of low to moderate income.  Summer school classes can be meaningful. Summer school classes available in community colleges, state universities and private colleges.  Some community colleges and state universities offer summer classes at very reasonable fees.  My son took a summer class at a UC school last summer.  It was a good introduction to what college study is going to be like.  I will write more this experience in the near future.

Whatever your child decides to do for the summer, it is important to have him or her do something that he or she is interested in doing.  Do not force anything upon your child just because you think that it will be helpful for his or her college admissions.  Let your child become the active decision maker and help him learn to become responsible for his or her decisions and actions.