As the school year winds down and we begin to take our finals, there is likely one thing no one wants to think about after all of it is over: more work. However, in the increasingly competitive American college admissions environment, summer opportunities such as summer classes, internships, jobs, and programs are perfect for helping students stand out, improve their educational abilities, and/or make a little money on the side. Mr. Leatham, our PGHS College and Career Counselor, shared with The NewsBreaker, “The best way to get a job after you graduate is to have experience. And the best way to get experience is by either studying in college or doing programs: extracurricular programs, internships, conferences, stuff like that”. Classes and programs are designed to set students up for professional success, and they do. However, the stress of many of these opportunities may easily be worn off if you did them in, say, a two-month period where you have the freedom of scheduling and choice of subject. Mr. Leatham continued, saying, “If you’re [only] doing a program, you don’t have to worry about being busy with homework, and you’ve got the whole free day to work on your program. If you’re taking summer classes, you won’t have to worry about your other PG High homework. [Summer] is an opportunity to make the most of your time without overwhelming yourself”. In this article, I will explain where to find the three main types of summer opportunities: jobs, programs, and classes.
Summer jobs are easily one of the most popular opportunities for high school students in the summer. Although most are non-academic, jobs can still be perfect investments of your time in the summer. Jobs can nurture essential skills like professionalism and cooperation in students, helping them in their future careers. Also, jobs provide you with something the other two opportunities do not: the ability to get paid. Therefore, jobs may be helpful if you want to save up for something new or want a discount at your place of work. The places with the most likely job openings would be front desk jobs at local establishments like In-N-Out Burger, Home Depot, McDonald’s, or as a camp counselor in a local summer program. However, job selection is not limited to this list, and the best places to look for teen jobs would be indeed.com and glassdoor.com, or merely checking with the front desk at the restaurant or store you may be attending. Although jobs may not seem like an essential part of your education, their ability to teach you important life skills (like dealing with difficult people) may make them an excellent addition to your summer.
Summer programs include summer camps, internships, and college study programs, and are amazing ways to build your resume. Programs usually offer similar opportunities during the school year; however, as your schedule becomes free, their summer offerings can be much more convenient. Summer programs are extremely valuable not only for your enjoyment, but also for writing your college application. Working on a summer program can display your dedication and diligence to a subject, which can propel you into many future opportunities. A good example of a summer program could be volunteering at an organization like California State Parks (https://app.betterimpact.com/PublicEnterprise/2fcd1691-3668-4f53-90f8-7bc6f07a343d) or the Wave program (https://www.thewaveprogram.org), which provide you with the extra benefit of gaining community service hours. If you have ever browsed on CollegeTok (college-centered TikTok videos), you may have also learned about research programs. Research programs are becoming increasingly popular among prospective college students across the nation, providing a way for applicants to stand out from their peers due to their college connections and rigor. Usually, these programs involve college professors and can include an array of experiences, like working in a lab or writing a research paper. Some examples would include the Inspirit AI Scholars (https://www.inspiritai.com/) or the Summit STEM Fellowship (https://www.summitstemfellowship.org/fellowship-overview). Research programs can vary in price, may require traveling somewhere, and usually include an application. Internships also provide students with one-on-one training and are frequently bunched into summer programs. Internships allow students to learn professional skills, much like a job (though generally lacking pay) and are offered by larger companies like Google. These opportunities are very competitive, especially at large companies, but interning at a smaller company can display your business experience and knowledge to job recruiters and college admissions officers. Summer programs are outstanding in furthering one’s career.
Lastly, but not least, summer classes. Many are quick to react, “NO! Why would I take more classes after just finishing all of the stress?” Although summer classes may seem contradictory to the whole idea of summer, they can be valuable. First of all, the summer gives you the freedom to not have any other homework, so classes can feel less stressful than during the year. Second of all, you also have the freedom to take classes that may not be offered at PGHS but you find interesting, such as linguistics, fire science, or kinesiology. Third of all, the summer can also give you time to get ahead in your schooling, like taking a history class in the summer, so you do not have to take it in the school year. Although MPC is the local option, you can take classes at any public California Community College for little cost or even for free. Also, most courses are online and done at your own pace over a month or two, so they do not have to interfere with any family trips or plans. You can even choose a community college course load or schedule that is right for you, such as taking classes at a school with mostly one-month offerings if you feel your work may be interrupted in a certain month. In addition, schools like UC Santa Cruz and Stanford offer “summer sessions,” which give students the chance to take classes on campus during the summer while testing out campus life. Summer classes are valuable opportunities for students to look into.
Overall, summer is the perfect time for students to build their resumes as they prepare to head to college and/or enter the professional world. If you want to learn more about summer opportunities available to you, meet Mr. Leatham at the College and Career Desk in the PGHS Library, or click on the We Are PG Google Classroom, where a wide range of opportunities are regularly posted.
