Summer Plans

Summer is a great time to relax and unwind from the hectic schedule of homework, studying and the general day to day expectations of school. But your summer shouldn’t just be wasted away into day after day of doing “nothing.” The summer is a perfect time to explore your passions, investigate your interests and indulge in fun activities that you might not have time for during the regular school year. As we reach the last few weeks of school, I wanted to encourage you to start thinking about what you will do this summer to make sure that you have a productive summer and don’t spend the entire break being bored.

So, what are some ideas of how you can spend your summer? Consider taking a class (or two) in summer school. This is especially important if you are behind in credits and not doing well in school. (If you failed a class during the 1^st semester or if you are not passing any of your current classes this semester, you should definitely take a summer school class!)  Success rates of summer school completion are very high – in part because you are able to focus on just one subject at a time. If you are planning on taking a class in summer school it is important to sign up as soon as possible.  You were given summer school brochures back in February with the course registration materials, but if you need a new copy you can pick up an extra copy in the counseling center or you can download the materials on the Worthington Website.

Perhaps you are looking for ideas that do not involve more school… Summer vacation is a great time to expand your resume and pursue your passions by volunteering or working a summer job. Many students don’t know where to volunteer and the truth is the sky is the limit – anything that interests you has the potential for being a volunteer service project. Get creative in your approach! For ideas about existing needs for volunteers you can visit HandsOn Central Ohio. Speaking of resumes, during summer break, you should really spend an hour or two updating your resume. (And if you don’t have a resume, the summer is a great time to make a resume.)  There is one volunteer opportunity which will be held at WKHS during the first few weeks of summer.  It is a program called iCanBike. iCanBike (formerly called Lose the Training Wheels) will be held on June 2 - 6th at WKHS. This is a week long opportunity for campers with disabilities to learn to ride two-wheeled bikes. Students who have volunteered in the past have shared how fun and rewarding this experience has been for them as well as for the campers who are learning to ride their bikes. Students interested in volunteering must be at least 16 years old and physically able to walk/run alongside the participant as they master the skill of riding a bicycle.  Volunteers must be able to commit 75 minutes a day for the week and attend a training session.  To sign up as a volunteer go to:  https://cbusbikevol.eventbrite.com.  Any questions regarding iCanBike can be directed to Marge Barnheiser at mbarnheiser@dsaco.net

If you are starting to consider different careers, perhaps you have a family member or friends that would allow you to shadow them for a day or two on the job to see what their particular career is really like as this will help you determine if that career is truly of interest to you.

Current juniors (Soon to be Seniors) – this summer is going to be busy as you prepare for your senior year. Hopefully you are taking the time to visit colleges from your list and getting an idea of what you think about different schools. (Don’t forget to take a picture of you somewhere on campus for me!) You can also begin drafting your college application essays and preparing for the ACT and SAT exams.

Of course, there is always spending quality time reconnecting with your family, going on vacation, reading, and even attending camps or other formal activities which can be a part of the summer for many.  If you are interested in learning about some of the camp opportunities - many of which are offered on college campuses, please be sure to check out the WKHS Counselor website as we continue adding summer enrichment experiences to the site as we receive them.  There are also camp experiences available at www.enrichmentalley.com.

The bottom line is try to be productive this summer – at the very least it will give you great stories to share next fall when people ask you what you did over the summer.  And remember, the best news of all is that summer is almost here!