Hey guys I am a freshman in high school, Every year I fly to another country to visit my family and spend time over there. I love going there and I cannot imagine not being able to go this summer. Currently I have a 4.0 GPA and plan to get honors courses next year. I have read many websites that say everything you do during summer counts and I can’t help but wonder if it really is as important. Please tell me what I should do! THANK YOU
I wouldn’t sweat it! This could actually be something really cool to write a college essay about - how you essentially grew up in two different places with two different cultures 
Can you get a job while you are there for the summer, or volunteer somewhere?
What matters is not so much what you do, it’s what you make of it. Spending the summer abroad with family, immersing yourself in a culture different from your day to day life-- think of the potential here for an essay!
Besides, life’s more about preparing at age 14 for your college apps. Life is about family. Enjoy yours.
you will be fine. the summer after freshman year is for relaxation since you might not be getting much of that in the future. i’m a sophomore right now, and during the summer i will be going to traveling and visiting family for a total of three weeks. i will also be flying to another state for a national competition. the rest of the time during my summer will be spent on act prep and organizing programs to educate young children on certain topics pertaining to my field of interest. i also might attend summer programs if i can get into them.
what you said is partially true – what you do during summer counts, but ONLY if you enjoy what you are doing.
i know i am going to enjoy everything i am planning on doing this summer, and that is why i am doing them. during summer, i am not thinking about what’s best for college - if i should volunteer, if i should do research, if i should take more classes to rank higher in my class, etc, etc. i am doing what i want and it has nothing to do with college (besides the act prep, since i want to get the act over with before junior year starts).
basically, do you what you love and do what is most important to you. summer is a time of relaxation but it also is a time to do things that you’ve always wanted to do but have not had the time for during the school year. use this time to give yourself a break, but always challenge yourself and experience new things during the summer.
hope the rest of the school year goes well for u, and i hope u have a great summer as well!
THANKS all for your supportive responses. I am beyond grateful!