As another school year comes to a close, many students shift their focus toward summer by choosing their balance of relaxation and work.
But the question remains: What’s the best way to spend your summer?
First of all, it’s often based on students’ grade level. For students heading into sophomore or junior year, the summer might be more based on relaxation as there’s no pressure to get started on college applications.
But for students going into senior year, then the summer is an opportunity to complete internships, rack up volunteer hours and complete academic advancement.
“Many students are choosing to take summer classes or do summer courses at universities that cater to high school students,” Cal High’s college and career counselor Kathryn Nichols said. “Many think they must have an internship, which is not necessarily true for everyone.”
Relaxation does have its perks. Instead of worrying about college applications, students can reset their brains, enjoy the nice weather, and relax during the nine-plus-week break.
“I like having a break,” sophomore Luke Sims said. “A couple months [is] just so nice, not having to do anything.”
The rest and relaxation during summer without any stress of school allows students to rejuvenate and find themselves in new ways and experiences.
“People who say they are doing nothing often mean that other people don’t think their activities are meaningful, but what they do has meaning for them,” Nichols said. “Think of a few interesting things that you would like to do or learn about, even if other people don’t understand your interests.“
Beyond that, some students choose to jampack their summers with jobs, internships, sports, non-district courses, and other extracurricular activities.
“Prioritize what order you place these activities, with ‘absolutely must-do’ first. Then ask yourself how you came up with that order,” Nichols said. “You know yourself better than anyone else. Leave some open unstructured time so you can be spontaneous and available for sudden opportunities.”
Many students choose to follow their interests during the months off to better find their passions or set themselves up for success with on-topic internships or experiences.
“I’m doing an internship working on software upgrades for multi-sensor systems,” sophomore Mahin Bharathwaj said. “[And] I might take physics online.”
Students who choose to do something academic during the summer may feel more experienced when they enter the incoming year of high school.
“People that stay active over summer feel a lot more happy because they do what they want to do,” Bharathwaj said. “But people that don’t are kind of just lazing around.”
But packing class schedules is more crucial for rising seniors, who need to finish necessary criteria for college applications.
“Currently, I’m volunteering and I don’t have that much time because of school,” junior Tayton Xiong said. “But during the summer I’ll be putting more hours into my volunteering.”
Staying active during the summer allows for incoming seniors to free up time during the school year.
“I’m almost into my senior year currently, and I believe that between junior and senior [year] you should really be focusing [on] your school and future,” Xiong said. “I’m going to be looking into schools.”
By completing all application requirements during the summer, students will have more time to focus on their classes during the school year.
“Right now, I think doing stuff during the summer is really important,” Xiong said. “Doing nothing currently, that would be unproductive.”
While staying productive or relaxing are preferred by some, many students balance the two by relaxing while also staying a little bit productive. A way students do this is by getting a job that still leaves time to relax.
“I’m going to try to get a job and get my drivers license because I know one day it will pay off,” sophomore Grant Oxborrow said.
A schedule like this allows for more flexibility during the summer, giving students the chance to hang out with friends while staying semi-active.
“I applied for UC COSMOS but I got waitlisted,” sophomore Kaiwen Xue said. “If I can get off of the waitlist then I’ll do that. [If not], then I might work at the pool this summer.”
Some students’ plans for the summer are still a bit up in the air.
“I don’t think I’m really doing anything,” sophomore Luke Sims said. “I’m going to help my sister go to her [college] orientation, but besides that I don’t have any plans.”
Oxborrow believes summer plans mostly depend on the person.
“I think that people have their own things,” Oxborrow said. “I think a person [who] does more doesn’t mean that [they’re] more productive. Some people just need more of a break and some people just like being productive.”
