Cal High students are using their summer in more unique ways rather than just going on traditional vacations or chilling at home.
Instead of only relaxing or traveling, some students, and even teachers, are using their 10-week break to partake in non-traditional summer experiences.
Some of these experiences range from playing sports to gaining work experience to spending time outside on trails.
Junior Carly Johnson, a seven-year volleyball player, is planning to attend a volleyball camp before traveling to a national competition in Indianapolis.
Johnson said she had worked on connecting with college coaches during the recruiting process, including sending tapes and attending many tournaments.
“I emailed a lot of schools, and I worked very hard in showing people my tape,” she said.
Johnson said one of the key moments in her recruiting process was during a tournament in Reno where she met one of the head coaches from George
Mason University in Virginia. After further communication with the coach, she verbally committed to the Division 1 program and plans to officially sign her letter of intent in November to play for George Mason University.
Another student who will take a different approach to her summer is junior Sachika Kamath, who will spend part of her break gaining professional experience.
In July, Kamath will participate in a month-long internship at Unchained Labs, a biomedical company in Pleasanton where her father works.
She will be working in the company’s marketing department through a part-time employee program that allows employees’ children to gain experience in the workplace.
“It’s just a really good opportunity, and it’s paid,” Kamath said. “It’s good for college and prep.”
Outside of her internship, Kamath also plans to spend time playing tennis and possibly competing in tournaments over the summer.
On the other hand, Sophomore Ekam Guron is making a mini series for a Roblox game, ¨Dead Ahead,” which is a popular team-based naval warfare game where players work together to sink enemy ships.
He actually started working on the series around April 20.
¨I have been working on it for a month, and I´ve already started filming an episode.¨
Guron plans to make five episodes during the summer, when he and his friends will recreate scenes that happen in the game. Guron in the past has tried to make other skits.
“It was to get practice, understanding script writing, and also getting people under control,” Guron said.
He wants to upload his episodes online and if it gets enough attention he believes he might create more mini series.
Cal staff members are also trying to spend their summers in unique ways, including several getting in touch with Mother Nature.
Librarian Jessica Bailey is participating in the East Bay Trail Challenge, an event that helps participants to hike across 20 different parks in the East Bay Regional Park District.
The trails range from short beginner hikes to difficult trails with steep elevation and distances up to 15 miles long.
“They’re divided into easy, medium, and hard,” Bailey said. “The hard trails are up to 15 miles and big elevation.”
Bailey said she especially recommends the challenge to people who enjoy being outdoors and want to stay active during the summer break. She included that while some trails are better with a group, while other trails can be enjoyed as a peaceful way to spend time outside.
It seems like this summer, many Cal students and staff will be busy. Whether relaxing and enjoying the summer sun or spending time with academic-related activities, summertime brings something to enjoy for everyone.
