Planning what to do over the summer can be a very stressful task for highschoolers. It’s difficult to find a balance between work and educational opportunities, while still enjoying summer to its fullest. Should you do an internship? Study abroad? Get a summer job? Or take a college course? 

 “Taking advantage of your summer by doing something like a job or an internship is important because it shows continued initiative and making an impact in a way that’s outside of the classroom. So not just learning, but learning by doing in a lot of ways. It also helps you develop some great life skills that you don’t necessarily get in a classroom setting,” College and Career Center Director Stephanie Brady said. 

As winter approaches, many of these programs are beginning their registration, so now is a good time to get informed on the opportunities available. 

Internships

If you know what you want to major in, an internship can be a great place to start and learn specialized skills for that field. Most internships begin with the typical application process. Depending on the internship, this application could consist of writing essays, obtaining letters of recommendation, or partaking in an interview. Once you are accepted as an intern, your days might be filled with shadowing employees, learning, and getting hands-on experiences. 

If you are unsure what profession you want to go into but have some ideas, an internship can be a good way to try out and get a feel for certain jobs. Being a summer intern is a great way to learn many real-world skills such as time management, critical thinking, and professional communication, which are essential aspects of working in a professional environment. It’s also important to note that most high school internships aren’t paid and, instead, offer volunteer hours. 

Junior Trisha Prabandham was an intern with NASA over the summer. “I think for high schoolers it’s really beneficial to get experience of the workplace … I am interested in going into a STEM major, so interning with NASA gave me the chance to work really hands-on. One of the things I did was trying to make flight operator’s lives easier by incorporating more usability heuristic designs into the platform they use,” Prabhandam said. 

Lots of Bay Area organizations offer internships including Chabot Space and Science Center, EBMUD, and the Oakland Zoo. 

Junior Kadence Yim was an intern for Sheng Thao, the mayor of Oakland, over the summer. “I helped with social media, wrote policy for her website, and sat in on a lot of conference meetings … I want to do something with law and policy so this internship was definitely in my pathway,” junior Kadence Yim said. 

Pre-college Summer Programs

Many universities offer pre-college summer programs for high school students. In these programs, students can get a feel for college life. They often live in the dorms and can experience the independence that comes with being in college. Some of these programs allow students to earn college credit. Professors may even write letters of recommendation for their summer students. They are also a great way of learning more about a certain major you might be interested in. 

“I went to Tufts University for three weeks for an art intensive. I was able to receive a lot of feedback from both instructors and other artists, which was very helpful,” junior Leigh Nakamura said. 

These programs are also great because many of them are not only offered in-person, but also online, making them more accessible to students. 

Many of these programs also have a rigorous application process. 

Senior Amelia Soong attended NYU Tisch’s pre-college program. This program focused on on-camera acting, where Soong spent the majority of her day at the studio, or participating in classes. “For the application, we had to write 3 essays, provide a creative resume and headshot, and submit audition tapes of monologues that typically take a month to workshop. It is a lengthy and tedious process. I think it definitely was a beneficial experience for me as I not only got to learn new skills, but also build connections with working professionals and meet like-minded young artists that share the same ambitions as me,” Soong said.

  Despite all of the pros, many of these programs have one huge con: the price. Pre-college summer programs can range anywhere from $500 up to $10,000. Fortunately some financial aid is available for these programs if students apply for it.

Jobs

Having a summer job is a classic and cost-effective opportunity that nearly all high schoolers have access to. Not only will you be getting a paycheck, but you will also benefit from real-life experiences. By taking on a summer job, students can gain better professional skills, including time management and communication. 

Senior Alice Zhou obtained a job at iTea, the popular commercial boba chain in Moraga. “I think improving my communication skills was a big part of the job. I loved having the opportunity to connect with new people, both customers, and coworkers,” Zhou said. 

Having a job can be a big time commitment, and can become difficult for students who can’t drive yet or have other responsibilities. Still, students’ experience in a job can be very appealing to colleges. Many schools look for students who are active leaders in their community, and having a job is a great way to demonstrate responsibility and leadership. 

“Over the summer I worked at Handel’s Ice Cream … I learned how to work with a bunch of different people, through customer service, but also getting to work with my coworkers,” junior Molly Stout said. 

Volunteer Service

Volunteering is a great opportunity that many participate in throughout the whole year. But, it can be difficult to make time for it during the school year, which is why summer is the perfect time. Volunteering is a great place to learn essential skills including leadership, patience, responsibility, and more. Volunteering is also a great option because there are so many different opportunities. You can stay local and volunteer at the food bank, or do a trip where you volunteer abroad. Either way, you are making a difference and gaining beneficial experiences. 

For those who wish to experience the thrill of traveling abroad for weeks or even months, several volunteer programs include service hours in their agendas. “Over the summer I volunteered abroad in Costa Rica through a program called AMIGOS. I was able to gain a sense of how other communities function and the ways that other communities need support … I helped build gutters to help with the rain, I feel like we made a big impact,” junior Mia Goldman said. 

Numerous organizations run travel abroad programs, another being NSLI-Y, a study abroad program focused on language immersion. The programs are held in countries like Taiwan, Morocco,and  South Korea, and are offered to students interested in learning Korean, Mandarin, Arabic, or other languages. NSLI-Y has a rigorous application process, with an early due date of Nov 4, so students must start early. 

While you don’t need to sign up for every opportunity at once, planning ahead can open doors you might not expect. Making your summer productive and eventful not only helps you discover new interests but also builds skills that will set you apart. Take time to explore what excites you and start looking into the registration process— deadlines can sneak up faster than you think. The Miramonte College and Career website is a great place to look for possible summer opportunities. Investing in an active summer now can lead to countless benefits for your future.