Sara Levine
Features Editor
When school is let out for summer break, students are relieved at the low pressure the two months of vacation have to offer. Whether they spend the break sitting by the pool or training for sports, students take advantage of the time to recharge for the upcoming school year. This summer, some students enjoyed filling up their time with a job or volunteer opportunity.
Over the vacation, senior Nicole Giusti worked at Camp Mini of the YMCA for children ages three through five. “During the school year, I am way too busy to take on anything else,” she said. “Summer is a great time to earn and start saving money for the year.”
Junior Sean McCloskey decided to get a job that allowed him to work while also enjoying the best of summer. “As a lifeguard, I got to be in the sun with friends all day, while still getting paid for it,” he said.
For those high school students who are looking for job experience or unique opportunities, local internships and programs abroad are available. Senior Holly Barra interned in a research lab at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. “Interning was a good opportunity to gain experience in a field of study that interests me,” she said. “Although it was very tedious, we had a lot of fun.”
Junior Will Hennessy was also able to find a job that interests him, only his was almost 8,000 miles away from home. Will taught English to African students at ‘Himo School’ in Moshi, Tanzania, where there are roughly 1500 students and only ten teachers. “I have always wanted to become a teacher and I love to travel, so this was a great way to do both while helping out an African community,” he said. In addition to teaching, Will helped build a roofed kitchen, allowing the students to eat when it rains. “The students were very eager to learn and were appreciative of all our work, which made it all the more worth while,” he said.
While most summer jobs are temporary, students who are employed year-round use the summer to take on longer hours. Junior Catherine Leeber has been working at the New Canaan Toy Store since last April. “Working over the summer is a good way to earn some extra money,” she said. “I don’t have to worry about balancing work with homework and other activities.”
Most students who have worked over the summer preferred staying busy. “While the job was really exhausting at times, it was better than sitting around and being bored all day,” Nicole said. Holly agreed that filling her time made the break more enjoyable. “I do like to sleep in, but it’s so much more worthwhile to do something over the summer,” she said.
For more information on jobs and internships, visit the NCHS College and Career Center.
