For most high school students, the summer is a much-needed break from the school year before they transition over to the next grade. For seniors, summer is a brief period between leaving high school and shifting into their college career. As such, the time they spend during these summer months is going to vary wildly from how they spent their time in the past. If you’re a high school graduate looking for the best way to spend your summer break, here are four great ways to spend the summer before university.
1. Consider taking a trip to a dream destination during your break.
Traveling is a great way to take a much-needed mental break and reward yourself for all the hard work and achievements you’ve accomplished throughout your high school career. One great way to break away from everything is to visit a national park in the United States.
Being able to take in the natural wonders of the world and break away from the hustle and bustle of daily life is the perfect way to spend your summer before college. You can easily find a park that appeals most to you by taking a look at a US national parks list. Whether you’re a fan of Denali National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, or Yosemite National Park, it’s just a matter of picking your favorite destination and getting all of your camping gear together.
The only thing to remember is that you will have to be a little more frugal on this vacation as you will be allocating a lot of your resources to your education in just a few months. There’s plenty of great advice out there for saving money while traveling that can help you make the most of your trip without breaking the bank.
2. Plan out your college career and look for help to guide you forward.
College is one of those things in life that you don’t have to navigate yourself. There’s an abundance of resources out there designed to help you make the most out of your college education. The few months between high school and college are the perfect time to plan out your college career so that you ensure you’re hitting your goals as expected.
You should also consider joining an organization like the National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS). Some are wary of these organizations, but you don’t have to worry about an NSHSS scam. Being an NSHSS member means being able to get support for your mental health and academics, find scholarship opportunities, and access other member services. With this type of support, you’re bound to succeed.
3. Look for a job or an internship.
Almost every entry-level job requires a few years of experience in that industry in order to be considered. Unfortunately, a college education is just half the battle of getting in. If you’re looking to pad your resume now, consider looking for a job or applying for an internship near you so that you can start working towards becoming a more viable applicant for jobs in the future. Then, when you are searching for a job after you complete your bachelor’s degree, you will be ready to join the workforce.
4. Prepare for upcoming classes with free online courses.
Doing a little work before you start tackling college full-time can give you an advantage. For example, if you’re pursuing a degree in business administration, signing up for some free online courses in this degree path can show you what to expect in a couple of months. When you finally get to that class, you will have a bit of experience so that you can do the coursework more confidently than those who may not have prepared.
While summer is supposed to solely be a time for fun and excitement, there are far more valuable things you can do with your time as a high school graduate. Use the four recommendations above to make the most of your summer and prepare for your academic journey!
