How to Plan a Purposeful Summer: Meaningful Ideas for High School Students
Summer break isn’t just a pause from school; it’s an opportunity for high school students to develop skills, explore interests, and strengthen future college applications in ways that simply aren’t possible during the busy academic year.
If you’re wondering how to make the most of your summer, here are meaningful ways to spend your time.
Community Service: Thoughtful Ways to Make a Difference
Most communities have numerous non-profit organizations in need of volunteer support. Summer break provides you with the flexibility to serve in a deeper, more consistent way and the ability to volunteer during the day.
Consider volunteering at places like:
Food banks
Hospitals
Animal shelters
Thrift stores
Places of worship
Summer camps (especially if you enjoy working with children)
Want to make it more enjoyable? Volunteer with a friend.
The key is choosing a cause that genuinely matters to you. Not only will the experience feel more meaningful, but colleges also value sustained, authentic involvement over checking a box for one-time volunteer events.
Employment: Build Real-World Skills
One of the most underrated yet highly respected ways to spend your summer is working.
I’ve heard from MANY college staff members, including Admissions Representatives and Directors, Vice Presidents of Enrollment, and even College Presidents, about how they value freshman applicants with work experience. Why? They know these applicants have developed life skills that make them more likely to succeed in college, including:
Responsibility and time management
Teamwork and communication
Problem-solving
Adaptability
Customer service (yes, even handling cranky customers)
Many retailers, including grocery stores and fast-food establishments, regularly hire high school students.
There are other creative ways to generate income and build essential life skills:
Strong in math? Offer tutoring
Musically inclined? Teach beginner lessons
Responsible and organized? Babysitting absolutely counts
Working in high school shows initiative, strengthens maturity, and shows a willingness to step outside your comfort zone, all qualities that stand out in the admissions process.
Career Exploration: Discover and Affirm Your Interests
Many colleges ask students to explain, in a supplemental essay, why they are choosing a particular major. Some colleges evaluate your fit to the major you’ve indicated on your application. School-year activities and rigorous college prep coursework are important, but so is intentional career exploration, which will help you affirm your interest(s) and add value to your application, showing that you’ve taken the initiative. So many ways to do this!
Intentional career exploration helps you:
Clarify your interests
Build relevant experiences
Strengthen your college applications
Here are a few impactful ways to explore:
Informational Interviews & Job Shadowing
Reach out to family, friends, or community connections to learn directly from professionals. Even virtual conversations can provide valuable insight.
Online Courses
Platforms like Coursera, offer thousands of flexible, affordable courses hosted by well-known colleges and universities. across a wide range of fields. These are not taken for a grade or college credits. The value is enrichment, affirming interest in a field, and showing initiative in career exploration.
Over the years, many of my students (and some of their parents) have taken Coursera courses on topics such as Coding, Cybersecurity, The Biology of Cancer, The Psychology of Happiness, Financial Management Principles, and Literature: The Classics.
Summer Programs
There are numerous opportunities, some local, some in other parts of the country, and even online options. Most are 1 to 2 weeks long and are often hosted by colleges (not necessarily run by the colleges). These programs provide immersive experiences in potential majors or career paths.
Pro tip: Apply early as popular programs fill quickly and may require essays or recommendations.
Hobbies: Create Space for What You Enjoy
Summer gives you the time to:
Deepen an existing hobby
Try something completely new
Create something of your own
Check out local parks and recreation programs. YouTube is a great way to learn how to do something.
Pro tip: Take your hobby one step further by teaching it to a sibling, friend, or younger student. Teaching demonstrates mastery, leadership, and initiative.
Be Intentional, Not Overscheduled
A “perfect” summer doesn’t mean doing everything. It means doing a few things well and with purpose.
Whether you choose to work, volunteer, explore careers, or pursue personal interests, what matters most is that your time reflects curiosity, commitment, and growth.
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