<p>Hi! So it seems like I may not be able to do what I wanted to do for a portion of this summer, so I'd like some ideas of what would be enriching/enlightening to do over the summer before college. So far this summer I've been pretty bored, although chilling and doing nothing is pretty nice. :) I've personally been thinking about teaching myself multivariable calc because I really love math and will need to know it for college later but I ruled out a job/volunteer work. However, I'd prefer to read some very interesting and thought provoking books, especially books about politics or fiction books. If you have any suggestions of what to read I'd really like to hear them. Lastly, if there are any other activities I haven't already thought of, which I'm sure there is, can you suggest them? As you can probably already tell, I really don't care how it looks on a job application or anything, I just want to do something interesting basically. Thank you!!</p>
<p>My suggestion would be to read for pleasure, since it’s doubtful you’ll have time for the much once you’re in school. Also asked S1, who just walked in the kitchen. He said he enjoyed ‘Warrior Politics’ by Robert Kaplan. Re: the upcoming elections, he also read ‘The Grand Chessboard,’ and ‘The Return of History and End of Dreams,’ by guys who are foreign policy advisors to Obama and McCain (he preferred the former book). </p>
<p>Don’t know where your interests lie, but other things being done by the ‘young people’ here this summer:
first attempt at a triathlon
playing in the community band
volunteering
swimming
staying up entirely too late and oversleeping (this is a popular one)</p>
<p>While these pale in comparison to say, a vacation in Europe or the Pacific Northwest, they’ll have to do for the time being.</p>
<p>get outside!</p>
<p>go for a backpacking trip (even just for a weekend) with a friend
ride your bike 20 miles, get lunch, come back.
if you have more time/effort/experience, go for a week long loop 300+ miles. it’s not too hard and it’s a great experience.
just go for day hikes. most people overlook what’s right in their backyards.
learn about local flora and fauna
learn about what goes on around your new school … town events, plants and animals, etc.
Try out and pick up a new “obscure” sport - cricket, badminton, table tennis, squash, etc.
hone your skills with a disc (frisbee)
read for pleasure
talk to your best friends a lot, about everything
talk to your family
go mini golfing with your parents</p>
<p>avoid doing anything relating to schoolwork … you’ve done enough, and you have more than enough to look forward to … just get out and enjoy yourself.</p>
<p>DO volunteer, make yourself useful. Read for pleasure. Do things you can’t/won’t when in school, save getting ahead for the nonscholastic dimensions of life. Try learning about things outside the math/science fields, practical things you can’t take a college course in. Look to your local tech school offerings for ideas of the tons of noncollege learning out there.</p>
<p>Get a job.</p>
<p>Be nice to your parents. Learn to cook.</p>
<p>There is no substitute for working a job imho. Employers around the country are becoming increasingly frustrated with the work attitudes of young adults as evidenced by the 60 Minutes segment re-aired a few months ago.</p>
<p>I worked in a factory every summer following hs graduation and it gave me first hand appreciation for the work ethic of my elders, taught me the value of 8-10 hrs of honest labor 5-6 days/week and made me appreciate the value and benefits of a college education.</p>
<p>If you have an idea of what classes you’ll be taking in the Fall, it might make a lot of sense to study some of the material ahead of time. It’s quite a shock being a new freshman, and there are lots of distractions. If you’ve already read through the textbook or learned some of the material, that might make the transition a lot easier. You’ll also learn and retain a lot more.</p>
<p>If you want to read an interesting book, relating to politics/economics/etc. check out:
Thomas Schelling - Choice and Consequence</p>
<p>Since we’re throwing all ideas out there, I’ll add travel – near or far – if you can afford it.</p>
<p>I def. agree with the posters who mention the value of working, but this is the third summer in a row that S1 has worked two jobs. He’s already in college, and “free” summers will soon enough be a thing of the past. It would be nice to see other parts of the country/world. Unfortunately, the lousy dollar and gas prices are not cooperating…</p>
<p>And if you do go on a trip (or even if you don’t) - take a lot of pictures. You’ll appreciate having them for your bulletin board or wall at school.</p>
<p>are you going into engineering? If so I’d suggest learning mechanics 1. Its a lot harder than calc.</p>
<p>My son is volunteering for a political candidate and reading a list of classic novels. Also helping me around the house and doing some cooking. We had travel plans dotted all over the summer, so a paying job wasn’t practical.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice, these sound like great suggestions! I’d like to travel but since it’s really expensive, I can’t.</p>
<p>Plant a tree or two. Get your picture with it.</p>
<p>I have a lawn which needs mowing…</p>
<p>My D is working two jobs and just started taking guitar lessons. Quite out of the blue. She is also trying to get H to teach her to sail. As said before, a great time to do things you normally don’t have time for. Looks like your not originally from California but going to school there, what about reading California authors, such a Steinbeck? My lawn is fine, but I have some rose bushes that need tending…</p>
<p>Agree with WashDad: get a job. </p>
<p>My prefrosh D1 is working full time for the first time, and loving it. Nothing like seeing your own handiwork (even if it’s cleaning up something disgusting: medical office lackey) and getting a paycheck. School will look pretty inviting by mid-August.</p>
<p>Oh my. My rising college freshman is the slacker here. She is sleeping very late, playing mindless video games with little sister, BF and assorted friends. Playing raquet ball at the Y (a new passion) and reading epic poems (just finished Paradise Lost). The job market here for teens is lousy. She applied everywhere, interviewed several times and was not hired - obviously because they asked where she’d be this fall and it’s out-of-state. She did get offered a minimum wage job over an hour by car from our home each way. We asked her to pass it up. She really needs a summer like this. The last two years have been very crazy. Much travel for ECs, scholarship interviews, college visits. Very challenging class schedule. And much difficult decision-making.</p>
<p>I am very happy to have a slug for a daughter this summer. Tonight she and BF are making homemade pizza and we’re all going to watch the results of So You Think You Can Dance. Tomorrow she and little sister are going to make new curtains for their rooms. </p>
<p>Sometimes just living for a while is time really well spent.</p>
<p>Mathson worked a bit last summer, but mostly played with his friends who all seemed to be at loose ends. He’s making up for it this summer. The same office is keeping him MUCH busier. He’s on a stipend instead of just charging them by the hour - and it’s working out in his favor. He’s getting paid for what they think is 40 hours of work, but mostly he can do it faster.</p>
<p>How about taking a Green Tortoise bus tour? That could be fun for somone who is adventurous and has a week or two with no commitments. Going with Green Tortoise would be much easier than planning a trip like this on his own. He could check the routes and see if one spends some time in an area of the country that he hasn’t seen.
[Green</a> Tortoise Adventure Tours](<a href=“http://www.greentortoise.com/adventure.travel.html]Green”>http://www.greentortoise.com/adventure.travel.html)</p>