Summer Recommendations and Reminders

More now than ever, ambitious high school students make the most of their Summer breaks.  Here are some reminders and recommendations about common Summer activities:

Volunteer Hours

- In order to earn Bright Futures, students need 75 or 100 hours (depends on the level).

- Students can start documenting volunteer hours as soon as they finish 8th grade.

- Keep track of your volunteer hours as you are doing them.  Will you remember how many hours you volunteered on June 17 one year from now?  Will you supervisor still be working there two years from now?

- Do a great job.  Dynamic young people earn promotions as volunteers.  Leading others as a volunteer is impressive on a resume or application. 

Virtual Classes

-Though shalt finish your virtual courses before the first day of school.  Most high school students have at least six classes during the school year.  If you are finishing two virtual classes when school starts, you will have eight classes.  Eight classes are too many for even the most ambitious student.  Finishing your virtual class before the first day of school is critical for students with athletic eligibility issues. 

- Communicate with your teacher well before any vacations or camps.  This probably means that you have to work much harder before and after your vacation.. 

- Finishing one segment of one FLVS course over the Summer can be a challenge.  Finishing more than one segment during the Summer may be unrealistic (depending on the course).  Are you dedicating six hours per week to FLVS or six hours per day? 

High School and Travel Teams

- Become a great communicator.  Do you have to miss practice on June 14?  Tell your coach ahead of time and then remind your coach on the day of your absence.

- Is it hard to balance the demands of your high school team and your travel team?  Yes.  Are the adults involved in these beneficial activities always reasonable about the other activity?  No.  Do your best to be present.  Practice hard when you are present.  Communicate when you are not present.  Your communication is much more powerful (and responsible) than your parent’s communication. 

Summer Reading

- Start early.  Skimming is not the same.  Watching the movie is not even close to the same. 

- Read more than is expected of you.  Read some of the things you like to read (graphic novels, blogs, magazines, books, etc.).  All reading counts.   

- Do people who don’t read have success on the ACT or SAT?  No.  Even the ACT and SAT math problems involve a great deal of reading.  Do people who don’t read have success in college?  Rarely.  

Part-time Job

- It is just a part-time job over the Summer.  It isn’t a big deal, is it?  Wrong.  It is a big deal. 

- You learn so much from your first jobs.  You gain so much confidence by working with people and communicating with customers. 

- Your first boss might be your best reference.

- You literally might own the company one day.  The owner of your local Chick-Fil-A very likely worked part time at Chick-Fil-A as a young person.

Camp

- Young people who love their camp experience often become counselors-in-training or counselors.  Act like a person somebody would want to hire while you are at camp.

- The most coveted skills for camp counselors:  communication, care and concern for others, and dependability. 

What if my high school aged child isn’t doing any of the stuff on this list?

-We have a problem.  Lots of students are doing several things on this list. 

-We also have lots of Summer left.  Use your free consultation with Student First Educational Consulting to start building a Summer plan.