Lake Zurich High School Student Media

Bear Facts

Lake Zurich High School Student Media

Bear Facts

Lake Zurich High School Student Media

Bear Facts

Students must take advantage of the summer for planning

It is important for high schoolers to follow a passion over the summer, according to the College Board. The truth of the matter is, by the time students are seniors, they have to choose what route they want to take for the rest of their lives, which is a scary thought. This is why it is so important to take initiative and go to a camp, a class, or get a job, to imagine yourself doing something in a specific field for the rest of your working life.

After the end of a long school year, students look forward to vacations on the beach, summer festivals, Six Flags, and anything else they cannot fully enjoy during the school year. Although it is important to relax and spend time with family and friends during the three months of summer, students should start, or continue, planning their futures.

“You don’t want to be the last at anything, the better prepared you are, the better options you have in the future,” Carl Krause, college and career counselor, said.

Summer vacation is generally stress-free due to the absence of homework, tests, and quizzes. Students should take advantage of this fact and take the time to read about colleges, explore career options, and most importantly, ask questions.

The moment you start senior year, you are expected to figure out which college you want to attend and what major you are planning to study. The school year is tiring, so summer is the perfect time to contact admissions counselors, visit schools, and start applying for scholarships.

In addition, there are many enrichment courses at community colleges. Freshmen and sophomores may want to take one in order to start figuring out which major they want to pursue. Juniors and seniors can get ahead and complete courses, which will save them thousands of dollars by the time they get to their colleges of choice.

Summer is also a great time to visit colleges and begin to understand what kind of atmosphere you prefer: big or little school, in a city or far from it, in a warm or cold place, etc. It is important to remember to revisit your schools of choice while they are in session, however, in order to see what it is like with all of the students on campus.

If students know they do not want to go to a four year college, then summer is the perfect time for an internship or job that reflects what they want to do for a job. More importantly, they can build up their resume and build relationships which may prove to be beneficial in the future, like for a good reference.

“For undecided or not four year students: consider your options,” Krause said. “Find employment, maybe get a full time job this summer, think about a trade school or  two year programs.”

High school is not just the time to learn math equations, analyze classic literature, and conduct experiments, it is about figuring out what you are passionate about. As such, students must take advantage of their summer vacations in order to start exploring what they want to do for the rest of their lives.

No matter what your plans are for your post-high school life, there is always something to do over the summer in order to be better prepared for the future.

Leave a Comment

Comments (0)

Comments will not be published until approved by the Bear Facts Student Media Staff
All Bear Facts Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *