<p>When I was in Girl Scout we organized a big clean up day of one of the local parks. Any student at loose ends could certainly do that. Our neighborhood does a clean up of our lake twice a year, but the fact is that it could easily be done every single weekend. In addition we have a bunch of boys scouts who have slowly been fixing up the paths, getting woodchips, edging the paths with logs or stones and filling the paths with chips. I imagine similar things could be done anywhere in the US. When I was in middle school we used to organize animal fairs to raise money for the animal shelter, or little carnivals to raise money for the Children’s Hospital.</p>
<p>I find it hard to believe so many unemployed in any city are lined up for vol work and filling waiting lists. It’s true some cities are vigilant about “workfare,” but wherever there is need- and we all agree here that need exists- then there are ways to help.</p>
<p>My kids also vol’d during the school year, 140 hours each. This isn’t a competition about whose kid does better. It’s about ideas when the obvious isn’t available. We’re advocating some compassion and creativity, a little climbing out of the box. These are life lessons. </p>
<p>Parent1986- agree there are sometimes conditions so bad that even adults should think twice about heading for those neighborhoods. But, this doesn’t mean those cities are off the list entirely. I don’t think you meant that. Using NOLA as an example, hundreds (if not thousands) of groups head there to do work, including church and youth groups that include teens. City Year and Americorps work in tough neighborhoods. Sometimes planning for safety is a core concern of the organization. I agree with you that, for indivduals, caution is smart.</p>
<p>Agree with lookingforward. TeachforAmerica puts kids in some high risk schools/neighborhoods. My s’s did volunteer work in homeless shelters and transitional apartments in some pretty darned marginal parts of town when they were in HS. Older s travelled to do volunteer work in marginally safe parts of Nicaragua and Honduras. But isnt this where the most need often is? Its not likely to be in the gated communities (no reference to Sanford FL please)</p>
<p>My oldest did city year. It was a huge opportunity for her. She was this petite blond (from a working class family) who nevertheless had attended private schools all her life.
Her city year, found her working in an elementary school that was the center for homeless students in the district, and teaching computer skills to inner city teens.</p>
<p>It taught her so much, and now the program has expanded and some of those inner city kids are doing their own year of service and earning education vouchers they can apply to college loans.</p>
<p>We have many programs in our city where members of the community can be involved & connect with each other.
Isn’t that what it is about?
It isn’t about getting something to fill in your college application, and it isn’t about “helping” only as long as your own family can benefit.
Instead of asking " why me", we should ask, “why not me?”
Life is too short not to be engaged.</p>
<p>Miami, for the last time, it’s not about applying for existing jobs, it’s about making your own opportunities. I don’t understand your continued negativity.</p>
<p>Someone mentioned organizing a street cleanup. Certainly there’s plenty of trash to be picked up by the side of the road. Organize it, publicize it, document it, and put it on your resume. No, it’s not glamorous, and it probably doesn’t use your skills as well as you’d like, but between sitting on the couch and doing SOMETHING, it’s the better choice.</p>
<p>During the summer, I decided to help my parents with their band. They do gigs every week and I even DJed for about 3 weeks I also traveled for about 2 weeks. ummmm…I read a lot. lol oh gosh, can interning during the schoool year make up for a lackluster summer?
I’m a rising sophomore.</p>
<p>No, it is not “absolutely necessary.” No, it’s not even a little bit “necessary.” Necessary for what? I don’t get it. I know it isn’t necessary for getting into a good college, because I never “did anything” during my high school summers. I find it hard to believe it’s necessary for getting a good job after college, either. Personally, I work a fair amount during the school year, and I’d rather not have a 25-minute commute to the nearest normal-sized town to work a minimum wage job at Burger King. I’m fortunate enough to live in a household where my mother doesn’t usually need my contributions to pay the rent. (Of course, if I wanted any spending money besides what I’ve saved over the school year, I would need to find some kind of job.) </p>
<p>Bottom line is, I don’t think there’s anything terrible about taking a vacation to, well, actually relax and be on vacation. At the very least, things like reading, enjoying nature, doing yardwork and spending time with family never hurt me! Some people like to have every minute of their time scheduled, and that’s absolutely fine, but others don’t. I don’t see why it’s anything to be ashamed of. Besides, how often in life do you actually get a three-month vacation to relax and do whatever you want?</p>
<p>^this sounds a bit more sane.
I kinda dont understand how not getting an actual job during the summer will damage anyone…especially freshman. Actually after reviewing fcebooks and checking in with my friends, many have just traveled a bit and then spent time with friends…and I go to a “prestigious” college. A large portion took summer classes too though.</p>
<p>Just like you should prepare/train for any kind of competition I believe you have to train to be able to enter the job market. Having first hand knowledge of what it takes to get and hold a job, however menial, when you are in high school or college is as important as your college education. Many people seem to train under the belief that you get the “fish” when you finish college. Sorry, they just gave you a fishing pole and you better know how to use it and to start competing for the best fishing hole.</p>
<p>^^^
Love your fishing analogy! Totally agree!</p>
<p>Had lunch with my daughter yesterday and she said she has been working continously since she was 15. She is now 21 going 22. Jobs every summer and paid for housing with her own money. It was not a surprise that she is not unemployed like many of her friends. You need to get some work experience. Her experience mirrors my own experience, have been employed since I was 15. I might take a year off or two to rest but always been working.</p>
<p>The corollary to my comment is “when would the appropriate time be to start training to be a worker?” And by my definition unless you are independently wealthy, if you have to go to work every morning (or night) to a job, from the most menial to the president of the USA, you are a working stiff. Today 15 sounds like a nice number to start.</p>
<p>DD1 managed to fit the following into her schedule:</p>
<ul>
<li>take 2 college classes locally to get them out of the way</li>
<li>study ‘advanced model airplane building techniques’ with me to learn the intricacies of working with balsa wood (major time waster)</li>
<li>take driver’s ed (incl classroom, driver time, and put about 80 hours supervised driving)</li>
<li>10-day cruise to Alaska</li>
<li>5 day trip to Washington, DC</li>
<li>complete shopping for her ‘dowry’ (apartment stuff)</li>
</ul>
<p>This is following the trend of another thread, but I will say my '11 college grad was employed 3 months after graduation. One month at home, then a move to another place and a job. Doesn’t pay more than enough to live on (alone), but he’s employed. Then again, he had a continuous resume of jobs spanning 6 years when he went hunting with diploma in hand. If you had two equally qualified kids would you hire the kid clutching the diploma with 6 years of work experience or the one clutching the diploma with no work experience. To all the kids that took the summer off before starting college or somewhere in between I sincerely hope it was enjoyable, but try to squeeze a real job in somewhere before you hit the pavement post-graduation because I don’t think it’s something you’ll regret.</p>