Kylie Drunasky | Writer
May 1, 2025
School is coming to an end and summer is just about here. Many students are eager for their summer break to begin and spend the first couple of weeks enjoying their free time. However, the freedom of no responsibilities can get boring after a while. With a dramatic transition from a busy high school schedule to an open calendar, many do not know what to do with so much free time.
By finding something that requires some sort of dedication, students have a sense of purpose and responsibility over the summer. Maybe not as big of a commitment as high school itself, but a devotion of a small portion of the free time that summer break offers is major. Summer break can be spent however one wishes to spend it. Use the free time of summer to try new things. Trying different hobbies can help one discover more about themselves and find their interests.
It is important to attend a college that will be the right fit. To ensure this, students can research colleges that catch their interest. Counselor at San Clemente high school, Diana Chumley, believed that “rising seniors should be researching colleges and making a list, they should be attending college visits, in person or virtual.”
Many students spend their summer volunteering. There are countless ways to volunteer and help out the community. This can be a way to discover a passion, and devote time to contributing to that passion. Summer break is a critical time when it comes to standing out from other students to colleges. What one does in their free time tells a lot about them, and colleges take it seriously. Gaining volunteer hours is a great way to stand out, as it shows that the student is giving time to helping a cause. Overtime, students begin to learn their own interests and then choose organizations that align with their interests to contribute their time to. Volunteering also helps students mature and learn essential life skills such as leadership, empathy, and communication skills. They become more informed on the world and problems around them.
Students exposing themselves to other careers also helps them decide what they want to focus on after high school. This can be done by taking an online college course over the summer. They just might love the class and discover what they want to do in the future right away. If they do not enjoy the class, it exposes students to a career to stay away from.
Getting a part time job can teach students many valuable lessons by exposing them to an environment that requires maturity and responsibility. They must manage their time, keep track of their schedule, and learn to communicate with customers, co-workers and managers. Sophomore at San Clemente high school, Emily Saw, started working at the local Fisherman’s restaurant on the pier to “develop new social skills and overcome getting anxious when talking to people [she] didn’t know.” By obtaining a job, students learn how to save their own money that they worked for. There is a much more fulfilling feeling from saving money that they worked for than there is from their birthday or Christmas cash.
During these months with no school, students can spend their summer however they want to. If they have the passion, there are so many opportunities waiting for them to explore and learn from.
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