How a Productive Summer Can Make a Difference

Filed Under: Blog

By Betül Demir

Summer breaks have always been a valuable opportunity for me to grow, try new things, and explore my passions. Every summer during high school, I challenged myself to step outside of my comfort zone and pursue experiences that have shaped who I am today. After my freshman year, I got my first job. The following summer, I began exploring potential career paths, and by the summer before my senior year, I was diving deeper into the fields that truly sparked my interest.

Up until my junior year of high school, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to pursue in the future. I was involved in clubs such as DECA and FBLA all throughout high school. However, while I found these activities fun, they felt more like hobbies than something I could see myself doing long-term.

 The summer after sophomore year was when I joined the Museum of Flight’s Private Pilot Ground School Program, despite having no prior knowledge of aviation. The three-week program exposed me to the many possibilities in the field, and led me to decide what I wanted to do in the future. This experience also introduced me to other programs, such as the Washington Aerospace Scholars (WAS), a five-month online course focused on space travel. Completing the course made me eligible for the six-day summer residency at the Museum of Flight, where I had the incredible opportunity to collaborate on planning a mission to Mars.

 That same summer, I joined Aeronautical Explorations, which allowed me to further explore various career options within aviation. Being actively involved in these programs connected me to additional opportunities, including Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Eagle Explorers Summer Camp and networking at the 41st Pathfinder Award Ceremony, where I met key figures like Gary Lai, chief architect of Blue Origin’s New Shepard, and Ray Conner, former vice chairman of The Boeing Company.  

Throughout these experiences, I also maintained a part-time job. Starting work at 15 was what helped me open up as a person, showed me the value of hard work and hard-earned money, and taught me the importance of time management and responsibility. Learning to manage schoolwork and extracurriculars along with a part-time job is a skill that I am going to carry with me throughout my life, whether I’m managing college with a job, or handling a future career with a side hustle. 

Another way I’ve spent my summers productively is through volunteering. Multiple studies show that volunteering is good for a person’s health and body, increases social skills, and benefits those around you. Volunteering is also something that many colleges and job recruiters like to see in someone’s application. 

Below are a few resources regarding career exploration and volunteering opportunities that I either came across and found useful or took part of and found impactful.

Career Exploration/Skill Building

Career exploration during high school is crucial in terms of planning out your future, discovering your personal interests, and understanding the wide range of opportunities available. According to research done by American Student Assistance, around two-thirds of current high schoolers (69%) and high school graduates (66%) feel they would have benefitted from more career exploration in middle or high school. (“How Gen Z Approaches Decision-Making”) Fortunately, there are many career exploration resources available for high school students  that also give them the opportunity to receive high school and/or college credit, while providing them valuable experiences and allowing them to build lifelong connections. One of the most beneficial career exploration resources are summer programs. 

  • WANIC Skill Center

Open to students from Bellevue, Issaquah, Lake Washington, Mercer Island, Northshore, Riverview, and Snoqualmie Valley School Districts, WANIC provides a variety of summer courses including criminal justice, engineering, culinary arts, and many more. Applications for the three-week, in-person summer courses open in the spring. By completing the course, you may also be eligible for 0.5 CTE credit. The courses are free, and financial assistance to pay for transportation is also available. 

https://wanic.lwsd.org/academics/summer-courses 

  • Puget Sound Skills Center (PSSC)

Similar to WANIC, PSSC provides a range of courses, including Dental Assisting, Pre-Veterinary Technology, Marine Science Technology, and many more. Although the program is located in the Highline School District, it accepts students from other districts. PSSC also offers high school credit.

https://pssc.highlineschools.org/famlies/admissions/summer-session 

  • The Boeing Academy for STEM Learning (The Museum of Flight)

The Boeing Academy for STEM Learning is the world’s largest educational department across all air and space museums. Focused on aerospace and aviation, the Museum of Flight offers summer and year-long programs at no cost, while also offering high school and college credit. 

https://www.museumofflight.org/Education/Explore-programs/Individual-Students 

There are many other organizations, colleges, and universities that provide career-related resources to high schoolers. 

Volunteering

According to a BioLife poll, people who have volunteered, reported feeling an increased sense of purpose (45%), increased happiness (36%), improved mental wellbeing (26%), greater self-esteem and self-confidence (20%), and reduced stress (11%) (“For Happiness and Career Growth, Consider the Power of Volunteering”) There are many organizations out there that are always on the lookout for volunteers willing to be a part of their mission to reach a goal, help someone, or support on a certain occasion. The University of Washington (UW) has put together a list of non-profit organizations around the Seattle area that are looking for volunteers: https://hr.uw.edu/cfd/volunteer/volunteer-in-the-community/; 

Other organizations not listed include:

Discovery Flight at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott Campus.

 Engineering Challenge at WAS: Building a Rover

 

Works Cited

“For Happiness and Career Growth, Consider the Power of Volunteering.” Forbes, 21 January 2024, https://www.forbes.com/sites/tracybrower/2024/01/21/for-happiness-and-career-growth-consider-the-power-of-volunteering/. Accessed 22 October 2024.

“How Gen Z Approaches Decision-Making.” American Student Assistance, 2021, https://www.asa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/ASA-Gen-Z-and-Decision-Making-Whitepaper.pdf. Accessed 11 October 2024.