Get Going Workshops

by Joanne Levy-Prewitt

Summer Is A Good Time To Discover New Interests, Activities

The snow might still be on the ground, and bathing suits are probably packed away for another month or two, but it's not too early for high school students to begin thinking about summer. Many students find that the demands of the school year make it difficult to pursue anything but good grades, and that makes summer the perfect time to try something new.

Most parents remember their lazy days of summer, with neighborhood softball games or car trips in the family station wagon. Even in high school, few of us strategically planned our summer activities to augment college applications. Instead, we focused on friends or earning pocket money. Today, though, some college applications specifically ask about summer activities, and few students want to leave lines blank or admit to sleeping late and playing video games with friends.

Colleges are curious about summer pursuits because in an increasingly competitive admission field, they are trying to get to know their applicants more intimately, and that includes learning about their choices for summer activities. Does that mean that applicants who choose recreational swimming are less desirable than those who do research at a medical laboratory? Not necessarily. Colleges are often trying to "craft a class," which means they are looking for range of talent and experience, and it is futile to try to second-guess what any college wants year to year. For that reason, students should find and pursue activities that genuinely spark their curiosity.

Students who have specific interests or passions can use summer to build their strengths in those areas. Artists can take, or even teach, classes; musicians can take extra lessons or compete in regional contests; those interested in aeronautics can attend flying or aviation camps; students who enjoy photography might improve their skills at a photography class.

Summer activities are especially important for students who do not have specific interests or passions because summer is a good time to explore. If you enjoy math but haven't really been challenged in high school, try a community college math class. If you like tinkering with your home computer, try a programming or computer science class. Those who like fashion might take a sewing, knitting or design class. Summer is also a great time to study subjects that most high schools don't offer, such as archeology, paleontology, ecology or architecture.

It is especially important for those considering specialized pre-professional programs or highly competitive majors to participate in summer internships, classes or camps in that field. Future engineers, for example, can attend engineering camps or participate in competitions and meet others with similar pursuits. The positive by-product of this is that colleges prefer to admit pre-professional students who have explored the field.

Don't rule out employment, either. If you are interested in film, work in a video rental shop. Book lovers might enjoy working in a library or bookstore. Your interest in your work will make you a better employee and broaden your expertise in your field. There's also nothing wrong with scooping ice cream or shelving groceries at the supermarket.

I'm often asked about advice for students who seek internships or special volunteer experiences. Students who want to take advantage of these opportunities need to use plenty of initiative. While parents sometimes step in to enlist the help of friends or colleagues, students themselves should contact local professionals, politicians or corporations to inquire about internships that will provide career exploration. Many summer internships pay little or nothing, so they might not be right for students looking to sock away money for college.

Finally, in addition to trying something new this summer, I hope all high school students will make time to read. In between activities, set aside the cell phone, turn off the text messages, and power down the laptop. Discover a new genre or try a new author. Summer is a great time to crawl between the pages of a book.

FOR FURTHER READING:
"Early College Programs" ($19.95; Nautilus Publishing Co.), edited by Robert Hydrisko
"Peterson's Make Summer Count: Programs and Camps for Teens and Kids 2008" ($19; Peterson's)

For summer reading ideas: http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/booklistsawards/booklistsbook.cfm

COPYRIGHT 2008 JOANNE LEVY-PREWITT