Summer break officially starts on May 24 this year.
Although summer break is a time to relax and have fun, it is also a chance to take advantage of opportunities you might not have time to do during the school year. Each incoming grade level should consider doing these activities to get ready for the upcoming school year.
Sophomores: To be honest, there is not much to do that is essential to prepare for sophomore year, so one of the only recommended opportunities is to take an online class to leave some extra space in your schedule for your junior and senior years. You could also get a job to start saving up money sooner rather than later and start ACT or PSAT prep.
Juniors:
- Volunteer: Getting volunteer hours over the summer will be very beneficial to get the six hours required to join NHS, which you can start applying for towards the end of junior year. Getting these hours in before the hustle of junior year begins would be a very smart decision. Check out the Helpline Center website to look for places to volunteer at.
- Plan for the ACT: As an incoming junior, you should figure out what date(s) you want to take the ACT. If you are feeling extra motivated, you might even consider starting to study.
Seniors:
- Do research for college: Deciding what college to go to is a tough decision, so if you have not started this yet, you should start researching colleges. In addition to doing research, it would also help to do college visits, which can help you figure out what kind of college you are looking for.
- Review your schedule: This will be the last set of classes you will ever take at high school, so it is important that you make sure you have all the requirements to graduate and that you are taking classes that you are interested in. If you have some empty space in your schedule, the CTE Academy offers excellent classes to help you explore different career options.
College freshmen:
- Buy essentials for your dorm/pack for college: There are plenty of websites to learn about the do’s and don’ts of what to bring for your dorm.
- Internship/shadowing: According to 10 Ways to Spend Your Summer as a College Student, some colleges may require you to complete an internship, so the summer is a great time to get this done. Some internships are paid, which allows you to make some extra money.
