Everyone can agree that junior year of high school is by far the most stressful year of all. A junior needs to start thinking about the SAT, college, extracurriculars and so much more. As an incoming 11th grader this summer, that got me thinking. How can I make this summer efficient? In other words, what can I do this summer which will leave me feeling satisfied and not full of regret. Here are four ways I made my summer efficient.
Studying. Now although summer is to take a break from studying, getting ahead on your study schedule only has benefits in store for you, especially if your SAT test date is coming up soon. I started practicing for the SAT this summer by completing a reading passage and set of questions each day (if you need motivation to study for the SAT specifically, I would recommend watching college reaction videos, they got me out of bed and studying right away). It wasn’t too strenuous but allowed me to keep the habit of studying which eventually made the transition to school a lot smoother.
Sports. As a member of my school’s dance team, this was not hard to keep up. I would have practices twice a week, allowing me to meet my friends and get some physical activity in. If you have access to some sort of club/team, I would suggest joining a sport team for the summer, even if it's just recreational! If that’s not a possibility, exercising at home is also an option. YouTube is super useful when it comes to finding workout videos of all intensities.
Skills. Every summer my mom would tell me to learn a new skill. If I would’ve listened to her, I would’ve learned around 10 new skills by now. This summer I decided to learn, or rather improve my writing skills. What I love about skills is that there are a myriad of possibilities with it. It can be as broad as dance to as specific as finger knitting. And with the magical invention of YouTube (I swear I'm not sponsoring YouTube - they don't need it), learning a new skill is so much more simpler. Plus, learning a new skill is something you can personalize and play around with and it will be a good use of your time, no matter what.
Vacation! Or maybe stay-cation. My family goes to India every summer to meet my grandparents so I always get a vacation there. Going on vacation is one of my favorite things. I love visiting new places and experiencing the cultures there. If going on vacation is not viable, there’s always the chance to go on a stay-cation. Whether that means just staying at home and immersing yourself in a new book or going out and exploring your own city (or maybe even neighborhood). There’s always something new for you to find.
Now there are many ways to make your summer efficient and these are just some of a larger, more exhaustive list. Making your summer plan is something which is personal and unique to you. Understanding your priorities and goals for the future will help you create the perfect plan for summer and the four ideas listed above are just some ideas to give you a kick start. Summer is the time to engage in something you love without school getting in the way or possibly even to find out what you love. Summer is the time to try new things and be free so don’t waste your summer sitting at home on TikTok or Netflix (a little bit is fine - I’m guilty of it too), go out and enjoy the warm weather and freedom from school!
Comments