Does the summer before Freshman year count as during high school years?

Paying for College
1

I am filling out a scholarship application, and there is an essay that has the prompt “Please describe one important activity outside of class during your high school years that has been an important experience for you, particularly one in which you have played a leadership role. Explain how this activity has helped in your own growth and intellectual or personal development.”

I attended Duke TIP for two years, and I think it would make a really good essay, but the second year I attended was the summer before my freshman year. Is that okay, or should I find something else to write about?

Any other general tips for essays or scholarship applications would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance

2

I consider the summer after 8th grade graduation to be during high school years.

3

I also consider the summer before 9th grade as HS. Simply put…MS ended at the end of that school year.

And the summer AFTER your senior year is not part of HS.

So the four summers of HS are before 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grades.