Ways to keep busy in the summer

So what do teenagers do when they get 2 and a half months off? They party! Go to the beach of course! Take awesome vacations! … Well some of them anyways. At some point however, the novelty of free time may wear off. If that’s your case and you’re looking for things to do this summer, READ ON:

Start looking ahead:

If you’re going into grade 12 in September, now is the time to start looking seriously at college and university programs. It’s a good idea to narrow down 3 in particular – the “best” one, the “backup” and the “double backup”. Weigh out the pros and cons of each school and search high and low for scholarships. If you are studying abroad or out of town, start looking for residences or housing. A simple google maps street view can save a lot of shock your first day. Educate yourself about meal plans. Will you get one? If not how close are the grocery stores? What about transportation? Is there public transport? Bike lanes? And of course, laundry will have to be done. Does the residence have a washing machine and dryer? If not where are the nearest coin laundromats? Inquire about life on campus and any open houses in the summer or fall. One of the best ways to do all this is simply to find an alumni or current student and ask them! Websites of post-secondary education providers may be useful but may also give a slanted perception of the campus and school. Summer jobs are a good source of income for university tuition and car insurance. If you don't currently have a job, start handing out resumes and look for "hiring days".

Bilingual Practice:

One great way to retain precious learning is to use it often! If you were in French or Spanish class, try to speak it as much as possible over the summer. Those going on the Europe trip may have some golden opportunities! Speak your second language with your family and friends as much as possible to keep the brain cells fresh going into September. Consider picking up some magazines or newspapers in French or Spanish. Watch films in alternate languages and listen to public broadcasts on the radio. A handy app you can download for free for Apple/ Android is Tune In Radio, which allows you to hear sports, news, and politics on the radio in other countries!

If you know computer languages such as VB or Java write some fun programs over the summer. Share them with your friends and impress them with your coding savy.

Volunteer Hours:

Even if you have already completed the 40 hours, signed off and everything, there may be scholarships available for extra hours! Recall, you cannot graduate without those hours so why not spend a week or two this summer getting them done? Local food banks such as the Downtown Mission are always in need of help. Kijiji sometimes has help wanted ads. A good idea would to be to get hours with an organization related to your program. For example, if you are looking at the nursing program at St.Clair, look for hours at Hotel Grace Hospital. The annual Windsor Zombie Walk needs volunteers every year, so if you have make-up skills or can moan and eat brains try it out! You can find their page on Facebook.

Come Together:

Being alone in the summer is the worst! If you have a particular interest, the summer is the best time to pursue it with friends. There are camps for almost everything, robotics, drama, math, music, and a ton of sports. If you play an instrument consider forming a band and getting a gig or two. A good ol' fashioned board game can yield amazing times (and I've seen my fair share of competitive monopoly games....) Spending time with your family is also important. Pacnics, vacations, and block parties are a good way to interact with your parents and siblings.

Nathan Doupnik ~ soon to be Gr.12 Peer Helper