Making Summer Count

Making Summer Count

Summer is usually a time to relax, no one will argue about that, but it's important for students to make sure that they continue learning while they are on summer vacation. If your child is fortunate enough to have classes, a job or internship that supports his or her educational goals that is great, but if not, here are a few more things they can do to make summer more meaningful. 

Volunteering - There are always plenty of opportunities to learn new skills and meet new people through volunteering. Whether they volunteer on campus or in their hometowns, students should be sure to carefully record their volunteer activity. Doing so will give them easy access to where and when they volunteered when it comes time to update their resumes.

Travel - Whether it's a family vacation or independent travel, as we age, travel becomes more and more about new experiences and learning opportunities. Even weekend getaways to local areas of interest or historical sites can enhance education and broaden students' world views.

Online or independent learning- Not all learning has to be for credit. Although it makes sense for students to take classes required for their degrees, if they can't fit one into their schedule or budget, they may try their hand at free, non-credit classes in either their field of study or another area of interest such as foreign language. Many public libraries offer free classes as well or free access to coding and language learning sites.

Getting fit- If your child gained the Freshman (or Sophomore) 15, summer is a great time to not only get back in shape, but to establish a workout routine that can be maintained once he or she returns to campus. Even 30 minutes of walking or other cardio activity alternated with an equal amount strength and toning can make a huge difference. As they plan their workouts, they should think about how they can maintain the activity when they return to campus in the fall. By now, most students know their fall class schedule and can keep it in mind as they plan their daily workouts, so when they return to campus, they can keep the same routine with little interruption.

Making Summer Count

Even if your child doesn't have a “dream job”, study abroad classes, or a summer internship there are still a number of ways to make this summer an educational experience.

• Work! - Any summer job will offer lessons in the “Real World”. Some students don’t see the value in a summer of working in food service, retail, or landscaping but all of these jobs require hard, task-oriented work, and the ability to manage time and handle people in sometimes difficult situations. I've hired many people in my life and the ones who were the best employees started out working in the most tedious of jobs. The way I see it; if you can wait tables, mow lawns, or deal with angry customers all day, you will be a conscientious employee who won't be afraid to work.

• Travel – The location doesn't have to be distant or exotic for learning to take place. Even seeking out a new adventure in a neighboring state can offer learning experiences.  As we age, travel becomes more and more about new experiences and learning opportunities. Even weekend getaways to local areas of interest or historical sites can enhance education and broaden students' world views.

• Independent study - Studying for anything from the MCAT to individual study in a foreign language or a non-credit, online class will broaden horizons and keep students’ intellectual muscles strong. Students who are interested in research can spend their summers working on a preliminary literature review for their future thesis or senior project. Believe it or not, some students even read for pleasure during the summer so they can easily answer the question “What was the last good book you read?”

• Volunteering – So, your child didn't find his dream internship this summer- don’t fret. There may be opportunities for similar experiences through volunteer work or job shadowing with a relative or family friend in the student’s field of study. Whatever volunteer experiences your child takes part in during the summer, be sure they record the hours worked and ask for a letter confirming the hours or a letter of reference from the volunteer supervisor. 

It's Not Too Early to Talk About Spring Break - Part 1

Contrary to popular belief, many students just go home, stay on campus, or take a long weekend instead of a full-blown beach or ski vacation for spring break. If your child is travelling with friends however, it's vital that you have a detailed discussion about your expectations during spring break.

Spring Break Tips for students - Part 1

Be Prepared - Remember the Boy Scout motto and plan ahead for the unexpected. A stocked first aid kit and road emergency kit are always helpful to have and keeping them in one's vehicle is a good habit to establish. Kits can be assembled from items on hand or purchased complete. If traveling to remote locations, extra blankets, an emergency hammer, water and food are good to have in the vehicle as well.

Write an itinerary - Even with everyone carrying a cell phone these days, asking your student to send you an itinerary can help you know approximately where they will be and when. It can also help your student plan their trip. Most students have never planned a lengthy trip by themselves, so creating an itinerary for you can actually help them see where they may be short on time or need an extra stop. If they're hiking or camping remind them that it is sometimes required, but always a good idea, to sign in with park staff before they hit the trail.

Have a plan "B" - The itinerary will help your student plan for the obvious, but what about those hiccups that invariably happen along the way while on a trip? This is a good time to ask your student about their Plan B and offer some advice on how to handle emergencies. Is the spare tire inflated? Do they have extra cash or travelers checks? Do they know that they can still call collect from a land line phone? (Try 1-800-CALL-ATT or a similar service.) If you belong to a motor club or have access to roadside assistance, this is a great time to remind your student about the benefits of your plan.