Ah summer! A time to capitalize on your passions and become an even better version of yourself. Whether you work or not, there are options to help you grow as a prospective college student and as an overall person. Find what you’re passionate about and work toward building on that passion. It's a win-win for college applications too! Enough talking, let’s go to a list (in no particular order)!
Secure a Summer Job
There are plenty of summer job options for teenagers, including working at movie theaters, grocery stores, retail shops, and fast-food restaurants. Securing a job doesn't always mean applying to local businesses. You can also offer services like babysitting, tutoring, dog walking, lifeguarding, landscaping, camp counseling, or cleaning.
Volunteer
Summer is the perfect time to explore and pursue your passions while helping spread kindness and joy. If you're passionate about addressing food insecurities, consider volunteer at a food bank or starting a community garden. Your community is full of volunteering opportunities, from the library to the YMCA, the hospital, an animal shelter, and/or the community center. If you live in a small community or need flexibility, there are also plenty of online volunteering opportunities. For some unique virtual volunteer ideas, check out this informative Oprah article, "16 Virtual Volunteer Opportunities That’ll Make a Meaningful Difference."
Job Shadow
Job shadowing can be a great way to gain real-world insights into a field of work, beyond what's written in textbooks. It can also help you rule out professions that you may not enjoy. If you're wondering who to shadow, start by networking and asking teachers, counselors, neighbors, family, and friends if they know anyone in your field of interest. However, don't limit yourself to your existing contacts. You can also spend time researching and reaching out to professionals in the career you want to explore. It may take some patience to receive a reply from a professional you don't know, so don't be disheartened if you don't get an immediate response or encounter a few rejections along the way.
Complete an Internship
An internship is a great way to gain experience and figure out your career path. Finding internships, whether paid or unpaid, can be tough for teens, but not impossible. Start by thinking about what you're interested in and reach out to people you know for help. You could even try contacting a local professor in a field you're interested in and ask if they offer internships for teens who want to learn and gain experience. If you can't find internships nearby, consider looking for virtual internships. This US News Article, “How to Find a High School Internship,” may also be a good place to start your search.
Attend Summer Camp
If you're considering summer camps for college experiences and making new friends, there are options for every budget. Start researching early to find a program that suits your interests, budget, and availability. Summer camps offer opportunities beyond the classroom, including arts, music, athletics, debate, and international travel. You might want to start by checking out "Competitive (And Free) Summer Programs for High School Students" from Forbes Magazine.
Take a Course
You may consider taking a college course this summer, as it can be similar to attending a summer program. While a summer course from a prestigious institution like Harvard can enhance your college application, it's not a guarantee for admission when applying in your senior year. You might start by exploring classes offered by community or state colleges. If you need more flexibility, widen your search to include online classes that align with your interests. Taking a course this summer doesn’t have to be limited to a college. You can also explore websites like Lynda.com, owned by LinkedIn, which offers thousands of courses through a monthly subscription model. Nonprofit organizations like Khan Academy and Saylor Academy offer course materials for kids K-12. While courses completed through nonprofits may not earn you college credits, you can still gain academic knowledge that will help you be more successful in the upcoming school year.
Learn a New Skill
There are many life skills worth learning before becoming an adult. You could make your summer count by learning a skill such as changing a tire, budgeting, fixing appliances, investing, or cooking. Teaching yourself a skill demonstrates determination, persistence, and curiosity - qualities any university would value. Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn a new language or how to produce music. Your summer vacation is a great opportunity to learn something new.
Start a Business
Starting a small business is something even you can do. In my sister’s neighborhood, some kids started a dog poop cleanup service and became CEOs of their own company. If you learn to crochet, start an Etsy page or sell at a farmers' market. Love animals? Start a dog-walking or pet-sitting company. If you're good at a certain subject, start a tutoring company. You may even consider starting a nonprofit to combat a problem in your community or beyond.
Enter a Contest
Although there are many competitions during the school year, you still have options to compete this summer. For instance, you could enter the NY Times Summer Reading Contest. Additionally, I recommend preparing for the NY Times Tiny Memoir: 100 Word Personal Narrative Contest, which takes place in the fall. Participating in this prestigious competition will also help you practice the valuable skill of writing a creative personal narrative where every word counts. You can start preparing for the Tiny Memoir by using their brainstorming sheet, which will also be helpful when you begin writing your personal statement for college admissions.
Apply for a Scholarship
CollegeBoard.org offers a free scholarship finder which can be a great place to start your search. If you need to take AP testing, ACT, or SAT, you will likely test through this platform as well. If you can't find a scholarship to apply for this summer, you can use this time to prepare and make yourself more competitive for future applications. If you enjoy gaming, you might consider applying for the Minecraft Scholarship, which has a deadline of July 31. There are also scholarships with multiple deadlines throughout the year, such as the "Be Bold No Essay Contest.” Winners of scholarships with rolling deadlines are often selected randomly, like Niche.
If you're looking for specific and personalized ideas how to make the most of your summer, contact Future Bound today to see how we can help!
List of More Summer Resources
TeenLife (find opportunities)
Youth.gov (news, resources, programs, and tools)
Roadtripnation.com (finding careers)
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