On this snowy first day of February it’s hard to imagine the arrival of the warm, sunny, days of July and August, but it’s time now to start thinking about how you will spend your time in July and August.
Summer is a chance for students to demonstrate their ability to manage their free time and find meaningful and productive ways to be engaged. While without question there is value to having free time and vacations with family and friends are important, spending time “just hanging out” isn’t going to impress colleges that want to find students who, once on campus, won’t be taking naps and playing video games in the common room when they aren’t in class. As such, I’d encourage you to think about trying to fill three different “buckets” this summer.
The first bucket is for Purpose and should be filled with work-like activity. That can mean getting a job, volunteering, or doing an internship. Colleges want to see that students can manage their time, be responsible, and be held accountable for their performance by someone other than their parents. Jobs also frequently bring students into contact with people that might not otherwise meet which is a valuable experience.
To find Purposeful activities this summer, here are some places to start:
Internship Connection: Carol Jabbaway does a remarkable job of helping students find remote and in-person internship in field of their interest.
Indeed: A wide variety of are posted here, including (as of this writing) the opportunity to work at The Late Show.
Your high school guidance office: There will be job and volunteer opportunities posted for your community.
The second bucket is for Personal Growth. Fill this bucket with opportunities to learn a new skill, cultivate a hobby, or be intellectually engaged. Strive to learn something new, understand something more deeply, or acquire a new skill. Many of you know that I’ve been enjoying improving my bread baking skills and, as I type this, I’m waiting for my croissants to rise.
Here are few resources help you to explore your talents and interests:
Summer Pre-College Virtual Summer Programs Fairs: There are many, many universities and programs that offer classes remotely and in-person over the summer and this is a great way to learn more about the opportunities offered.
Summer Discover Internship Program: Take classes in person or online at colleges throughout the country. Programs include classes in Sport Management, Business and Entrepreneurship, and Art among others.
Youth In Philanthropy: Through this organization students are connected with organizations that welcome volunteer support.
King Arthur Flour: If you share my passion for bread-making, check out these online classes that run from 2 hours to 4 days in length.
The final bucket should be filled with Passion. Do things that fill you with joy like sailing, reading without interruption, hiking up mountains, and even spending time with friends. It’s important to do things that nurture your heart and soul, especially after this particularly challenging year. Try something new and see where it takes you.
The goal isn’t to divide your time equally between these buckets, but to think about how you might allocate your summer months to putting something in each bucket to suit yourself. While one goal is to demonstrate to colleges your ability to find meaningful and productive ways to fill your discretionary time, more importantly, I hope that you’ll learn a little something about yourself.