5 Ways to Make the Most of Your Post-COVID Summer
By Jody Bell
After over a year of life being turned completely upside down, this summer is looking like a breath of normalcy.
For high school students this is particularly exciting ‒ suddenly the prospects of beach days with friends, summer jobs, and a busy social life devoid of school is suddenly upon them! While this is true, many students are looking to maximize their summers ‒ professionally, academically, socially, and personally.
We found the top five things you should do to make the absolute most out of your summer.
1. Pursue an in-person internship
This past year has most likely revealed something about your professional aspirations ‒ with vaccines out, now is your time to explore!
After a year of seeing our scientists, healthcare workers, and digital experts hold our country together, you probably have some further indication of where you would like to steer your career. Yet, peering into careers through the perspective of the news, social media, or your friends/family isn’t always accurate ‒ it’s important to immerse yourself in these potential careers to really see if it’s a good fit. Leverage your school and your connections to try and land an in person internship in an industry of interest ‒ that way you can further explore it in a valuable, low-pressure, and insightful way!
2. Take on a summer class
Chances are, a good portion of your education this past year has been virtual.
With high efficiency rates and COVID-restrictions lifting, next academic year is shaping up to look much more “normal” than we may honestly be used to! In person classes with 20+ students, active class discussions, group projects/presentations, and while this is great for learning outcomes, it can definitely be more stressful.
If you feel a bit nervous about this transition, try to take some summer classes at your local community college this summer! Not only is this a great way to keep your school-skills fresh and gain exposure to college courses, but you may be able to take the credit from the class and apply it to your college career later on. You can also take online classes, like with our Girls With Impact Summer Academy where teens all over the country will be coming together to learn how to turn their passions into a real business.
3. Make a Summer Bucket List
We all haven’t been able to do what we wanted to in the past year - whether that was a simple lunch with friends or a movie night at the theater.
With areas opening up and vaccines looking promising, this summer is shaping up to look a-m-a-z-i-n-g! One morning take a notebook and write down all of the things you wished you had been able to do in the past year ‒ both the mundane and extravagant. Try to make sure you have plenty of free/affordable options, along with activities you could do solo or with friends!
4. Start a Summer Book Club With Your Friends
After plenty of months kept separate, we know you’ll want to spend nearly everyday with your friends this summer.
Trust me ‒ we totally get that ‒ but it’s also important to remember to spend at least some time practicing the important school skills you’re missing out on. That’s why a summer book club with your friends is a great way to hang out together and stay connected, but also spend time reading, discussing, and analyzing.
My friends and I try to make our book club meetings a weekly “event” equipped with baking some cookies or a healthy meal! It’s a great way to change up the conversation and make sure you are doing a good variety of activities together.
5. Remember Gratitude
While this is more of a passive action than a physical one, we believe gratitude is something that should be done every single day.
After a year of losses, this summer feels like a fresh breath of air full of love, happiness, health, and family. It’s important to remember these losses and just how recently life was turned upside down ‒ be grateful for the family and health that you have.
You truly need to practice gratitude, and while it may seem cheesy, speaking to yourself in the mirror is a great way to do just that! When you wake up say 3 things you are grateful for into the mirror before getting ready for the day.
Truth be told, the most important thing you could do this summer is whatever feels right. Many students are experiencing stress, burnout, and mental health issues associated with the past year and a half, and for some, a few months just to relax and recharge is exactly what they need. Spend time reflecting on the past few months and what you feel you need ‒ as long as you are being true to yourself and your feelings then we at Girls With Impact already approve of your summer plans!
Jody Bell, 19, is Girls With Impact’s Chief Editor and a program graduate of Greenwich High School. Girls With Impact is the nation’s only online, after-school, entrepreneurship program for girls 12-21, turning them into tomorrow’s business leaders and innovators. More info at www.girlswithimpact.org