Summer Learning and Fun for Teens!

Summer! Ah, the very mention of the word gives us reason to rejoice. School is out, no more homework. We get to stay indoors all day and work on becoming reclusive technology users and video game players.

Not to burst your bubble, but your summer vacation should not be wasted on watching movies and playing video games. Of course you can enjoy yourself and spend some afternoons indoors, but all of your time should not be spent on non-productive things.

Unfortunately, video games and other devices can be very addictive and distract you from achieving your goals. So, this is my warning: Do not spend the entire summer inside watching television and playing video games. You will miss out on so much.

To help you get the most out of your summer experience, follow the two E’s. I came up with this system while pondering this exact subject. The two E’s are: 1) enjoyment, and 2) enlightenment.

There are many things you can do during summer that will be both fun and productive. Since I want to make your summer as fun and stress-free as possible, here are my top activity suggestions to make the best vacation.

• Join a summer camp. When you join a summer camp, you will be unplugged from technology (depending on the summer camp you go to). At camp, you will learn to be more independent, which will help get you ready for college. You will also make new friends, some of whom may become your life-long best friends. And, you can enjoy some time outdoors.
• Join an internship program. Love animals? Or do you enjoy social media?  Try joining an internship program that would help guide your career and give you real-world experience in the path you are following.

Getting work experience now strengthens your résumé for college and post-college. By working as an intern in your future career, you develop important and useful skills that help give you a leg up in your future dream job.

If you don’t have an opportunity to go to camp or accept an internship, check out these other ideas:

• Take an educational vacation. Everyone likes vacation, right? If you answered “Yes” to that question, I have some good news for you! Visiting different places can actually be educational, especially if you learn about the area’s history and culture, and visit some museums.
• Enter a leadership program. Do you want to know what one of the most important skills is to have? Leadership skills! Highly prestigious schools like Harvard and many other colleges look for qualities like being a good leader when assessing applications. And even if you don’t want to go to college, knowing how to be a leader is a very important life skill. You never know — it could come in handy.
• Prep for the SATs. Alright, maybe this isn’t one of the fun ones, but it’s still very important. The SAT is an essential test to take when you’re applying to college. Preparing for it during the summer would ensure that during the school days, your schedule won’t be so hectic. To see how you could prepare for the SAT, visit here.
• Set up a charity. Volunteering to help the less-privileged is an act of kindness. Not only does it show that you are selfless, it also shows that you have love for everyone around you and want to give back to society by helping others. You can set up a charity during the summer and get the money and donations you need from something as easy as a bake sale.
• Get a new hobby. Hobbies are excellent for keeping you occupied. They provide you with a creative outlet while letting you take part in something you love. Hobbies also give you opportunities to learn new things. So, if you are sitting down, bored with nothing to do, chances are that you need a new hobby.

There are many ways you can be certain your vacation will be both fun and productive. This list is just a guide that will get you thinking about other ways to have an enjoyable summer. Always remember the two E’s.

For more productive things that you can do during your summer vacation, click here.

So … what do you think YOU can do to help ensure your summer is enjoyable and enlightened?