What to do this summer...

"Summer afternoon, summer afternoon; to me those have always been the 
two most beautiful words in the English language.  -Henry James

This has always been one of my favorite quotes, and in fact, I have it framed and hung up on a wall in my house.  Many students, however, feel like they've lost their summer afternoons to college applications and resume building.  So how can students find time for both themselves and meaningful activities? (By the way, I believe spending time doing nothing can be a meaningful activity.)  This was one of the topics we discussed at last Thursday's Cup O' College conversation.

But first, everyone needs time off. Everyone. Students must have a chance to unplug or disconnect from constantly being on the go.  This can be a few weeks at the beach to a road trip to grandma's house to (gasp!) sleeping as late as possible and staying in your pajamas all day. The dog days of summer can be the best time to read a book of one's own choosing, and it is often when our most creative ideas take shape.  (Side note: two juniors have recently told us they took their social media apps off their phone, and they are so much happier! Could they be on to something?) Some of us have to schedule down-time, and if you're one of those people, then put it on your calendar and then stick to it. You'll be glad you did.

Once you've built in time to relax, the summer months also offer students time to explore and develop skills for potential careers. If you are considering a career in law, you will need good communication (both verbal and written) skills.  What activities offer you the opportunity to improve upon those skills?  Model UN is a good place to start, and the theater can also help you become more comfortable speaking in front of a group.  Writing for the school paper might be useful, but you can also contact local publications like the Times Free Press, Chatter Magazine, or The Pulse to see if they have any volunteer or internships possibilities.  You might consider taking a political science class over the summer (i.e. Community of Scholars Program at American University's School of International Service), or on a more local level, join the Mayor's Youth Council. For that matter, are there any local races going on right now? (The answer is yes.) Volunteer for one of those.  Even though this list from the State Department focuses on DC opportunities, perhaps it will give you some ideas for something local. 

Interested in a medical career? Try the Volunteen program at Erlanger, or contact another hospital and see what they have available. Ask Chattanooga Hospice or our local chapter of the American Red Cross whether or not they need volunteers (although there may be an age requirement). Service opportunities make sense too, so volunteer at the Food Bank or Community Kitchen. Also consider what in-school activities make the most sense. For example, talk to Mrs. Durham about the research program with UTC or make sure you are a member of the Health Club.  

What about other possible careers?  Our local ACE program is a good option for budding engineers, but a volunteer stint (or job) at the Creative Discovery Museum is also valuable.  Coding is a great skill to have, and I bet Mrs. Pieritz has a lot of ideas on how you can turn that into a after-school or summer program.  If you're contemplating a fine arts career, you too can check out summer opportunities at the Creative Discovery Museum or Hunter Art Museum, and you can also check with Arts Build. Of course, ReGenerate, the city-wide, student-run arts council is another program you might investigate.  You can find them on Facebook. Students interested in business should absolutely think about applying for the 24 hour generator at Mad, Bad, and Dangerous.  You should also check out UTC's Summer Business Camp (open only to rising seniors). The cost is very reasonable!  You don't have to be so career focused however! Perhaps you've secretly yearned to be a tap dancer or you've always wanted to take a creative writing course.  A summer job is also an excellent way to spend the summer, but try looking for something a little outside your comfort zone.  Your mom or dad's office is great, but you're not really stretching yourself there.

The summer is a good time to learn something new and think outside-the-box.  Use your resources. Talk to your teachers, your parents, and the friends of your parents.  Make connections (also a good skill for later on in life), and create your own opportunities.  And by the way, pick any college or university and type summer programs in the search bar.  Prices may vary, but you are sure to find something you like.  And last but not least, continue to check out Summer Opportunities on your MyGPS class page. Mrs. Haley is posting programs as they come to us.

Now is the time to think about what you're going to do this summer, so start looking!