Sebastian Gonzalez, Reporter
@GonzalezCourant
Matt Sisser, Photos Editor
@MSisserCourant
Graphic by Matt Sisser
While many spend their summer relaxing with plenty of free time, you could be taking advantage of all that extra time to stay productive. Here are 4 ways to stay productive this summer.
Obtain a job or work someplace that sparks your interest:
Employment can prove to be the most productive summer activity of them all, if you’re old enough to work. There are many positions in New Canaan and nearby towns that are open to high schoolers, and even by working short hours or less days a week you can still rack up some cash. Even if a paid retail job isn’t what you’re looking for, some organizations offer career internships that could help you strengthen your portfolio and build important skills. Employment can be your key to a wealthier and productive summer.
Participate in volunteer work:
One way to fill up your summer schedule while being productive is to volunteer for charity in the area. Last summer I began to volunteer at Person to Person in Darien, I quickly fell in love with the experience and volunteered 100 hours there. The experience taught me valuable lessons and gave me a chance to help the less fortunate than us in our area. There are many different organizations in the area you can get involved. As an added benefit your volunteer hours can help strengthen your college application.
Learn a new skill or hone a new craft:
Learning a new skill is a productive and fun way to chip away at your summer free time, and there are nearly endless opportunities to do so. Learning a new language, learning to program, or starting a new sport are great uses of your time and can even allow for further possibilities for high school, college, and beyond. Over the summer of 2024, I developed my abilities to scuba dive, write, and run, which not only was a great way to pass the time, but proved to be incredibly fun. The hobbies that I’ve developed over the summer have turned into passions that will carry with me for years to come.
Begin the College Process:
It’s never too early to begin the college search. One way to fill up your summer is touring colleges and universities you’d be interested in to make the most of your next 4 years. Even if you’re unsure of what the right school for you would be, it’s important to continue to work on your college profile throughout the summer. One way to do this is to do standardized test prep, for the ACT & SAT. This will also keep you on track getting back to school in september. If anything, brainstorming what college you’d want to attend or what your college essay will be is one way to stay productive over the summer.
Most importantly, summer is a time for you to relax, have fun and lose the stressors of the school year. If that means late nights out with your friends or long days on the beach, summer is a time for you to relax.
