I know it's only November, but it's never too early to start thinking about summer vacation! I've always said that I hope my students will actually take some time to relax during summer vacation, and I sincerely mean that. We all need some time to decompress, slow down, and turn off. However, knowing that many students want to do something with their time off, here are just a few suggestions.
Some students use June, July, and August to find a part-time job. If that is something you are considering, think about finding a job that will get you out of your comfort zone. Paraphrasing a former admissions dean, if you have a choice between a trip abroad, working at your mother's law firm, or pumping gas (not that we have full-service gas stations any more), then pump gas. You get the idea. However if you're thinking about a career in education, working with young children at GPS summer camp might be a good option. Likewise, if you're thinking about a career in veterinary medicine, think about working or volunteering at an animal hospital.
Many of my students will use their time off to volunteer (the Erlanger VolunTeen program is one such activity), while others might take classes in an area of interest. For example, Duke University has a number of academic options, and if you're interested in seeing what they have to offer, visit their website. The University of Notre Dame also offers a "pre-college" summer program, as do many other schools like Auburn and Boston University.
You don't have to go that far away from home, however. The UTC College of Business offers a summer business experience where students can interact with professors and successful business professionals in workshops, field trips, and seminars, or perhaps you have another specific college in mind. Just go to their website and search for summer programs for high school students. We've had GPS students attend some amazing engineering programs at Smith College and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Another option is the Yale Young Global Scholars Program. Yes, some of these programs can be expensive, but many also offer financial assistance, so it doesn't hurt to look, You can also check the Summer Opportunity link on this blog for summer programs we have posted in the past.
Of course all summer classes don't have to be academic. We've had students take sewing and cooking classes, and some girls take dance, music, or art classes. You might also want to consider starting a new foreign language or learn about home-repair at Home Depot. Think about what you've always wanted to learn and see if you can find a program in the area. We will continue to post summer opportunities as we receive them, so check back regularly.
Whatever you decide to do, make sure you do take some time off just for yourself. Recharging your batteries will make you a better and happier student when classes start again next fall.
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