As students near the start of second semester there is only one thing on their minds – summer.
No more homework, early mornings, or stress. While summer is a great time to just kick back and relax, most people can agree that doing nothing gets pretty boring. Luckily, there are a myriad of opportunities for students to take advantage of during this time. Between exploring career paths, attending programs at colleges, partaking in leadership conventions and getting a job, there is something for everyone.
During the summer, students may get an internship or shadow a professional in order to experience potential future careers and workplaces. This experience can teach what it’s like to be in the profession, what it takes to get there and if it is something they would eventually like to pursue.
Senior Olivia Kerban took part in the Future Agents-in-Training program with the FBI last summer. The FBI accepts 30 students into this program and shows them different departments to work in and also brings them to Quantico where current agents are training. “I want to go into the criminal justice field and my program with the FBI taught me so much about this field. Every day there was a person from each subdivision within the FBI and they explained what they did and how you can do it too,” Kerban said.
College programs expose students to college life and these experiences can be beneficial to high school students still exploring schools, majors and career paths. Students enroll in college courses, and can earn college credits, while experiencing the social life, activities and opportunities of campus living. Senior Zane Cohen attended a medical program at University of Maryland, College Park this past summer. Cohen had labs and lectures during his one-week medical school experience. “I plan to go to college on the pre-med path, and the program I went to this summer was able to show me what is in store for me in my near future,” Cohen said.
Students can also enroll in the National Student Leadership Conference Pre-College Enrichment Program. NLSC allows students to experience life on a college campus, exclusive guest speakers, hands-on simulations, leadership training and behind-the-scenes tours. NLSC appears on 15 colleges campuses (including Georgetown University and American University) and with a 9:1 student-staff ratio, students are able to work closely with their program staff and professors in an interactive learning environment. There are a wide range of programs offered by NLSC under the over-arching categories of business, government and law, S.T.E.M., leadership and performance, design and media arts.
A common opportunity taken by students during the summer is getting a job. Popular summer jobs include lifeguarding and working at summer camps, local day camps or sleep-away camps. People also work at restaurants, clothing stores and gyms. Junior Jillian Pohoryles spent her summer working at Camp Kayitz, a day camp for children ages two to 10 at Temple Beth Ami. “I love working with kids so being a counselor this summer was so much fun and a great way to give back to my community,” Pohoryles said.
