After finals are over in May or June, I always feel weirdly empty because I just went from chaotic studying and testing to all of sudden having absolutely no work to do whatsoever. The absence of work means I have more time to go out and spend time with my friends in a stress-free environment, but that's not enough to keep me from getting bored during the three months of summer break. I mean, what do I do every day?
I think that summer is meant to be relaxing but also an opportunity to take advantage of all the free time I get. After all, I don't have time to delve into hobbies or indulge in leisure when I have oodles of homework and tests and projects to complete during the school year. It also doesn't help that high school has put me into a habit of needing something to do every day in order to feel productive.
In fact, productive is the keyword here. Spending days and weeks at home with my laptop and phone makes me feel like the biggest couch potato and my routine becomes a lot more monotonous. I know that while learning isn't anywhere close to being a priority during the summer, but learning can be so much more interesting when it's about something you love. For myself, it's hard to maintain the motivation to do work during the summer especially when I'm stuck at home, and I know plenty of other kids are feeling the same laziness to get involved in summer work.
So, the more convenient way to stay productive is through the online classes that are offered by colleges. Although it sounds incredibly boring and is the opposite of the meaning of summer, especially in high school, summer is a chance to get involved in your future occupation or explore other interesting occupations. Since I'm interested in becoming a doctor, I've signed up for Harvard's online class on the musculoskeletal system because normally I wouldn't be able to learn about something like that in school, and it's much more interesting learning about a subject you are genuinely intrigued by. It feels great, too, to get more involved in the field you aspire to be a part of. Ultimately, if you choose to get a certificate from these courses, it's a great addition to a future college app.
Because of the coronavirus, every high school student would be out volunteering, interning, working summer jobs, and other activities/events meant to embellish college applications, but the summer of 2020 is surely an exception. These online classes are a meek substitute to whatever activities you may have intended on participating in this summer, but no matter the circumstances, keep learning and working towards your future goals using your advantage of summer break. It'll be worth it in the end!
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