Austin Scholar #67: How to design epic summer plans (and why you should)
& my summer plans (and how they relate to my long-term goals)
Hey, y'all!
This week from Austin Scholar...
How to design epic summer plans (and why you should)
Austin’s Anecdote: My summer plans (and how they relate to my long-term goals)
Scholar’s Sources: My favorite online summer courses for summer studying
It’s getting to the end of the school year, and I’ve been pretty stressed as I try to tie up loose ends. It’s absolutely crazy that my junior year is almost over–and that I just watched one of my very best friends (that I’ve known for the last seven years) graduate high school this week. I’m growing up. Things are changing. And it’s scary. And since it's almost summer, I'm going to be writing about summer plans this week. If you've been around for a while, you'll know this is one of my favorite topics.
How to design epic summer plans (and why you should)
I used to be terrible at making summer plans. Over the years, I’ve done some super interesting things. Most recently, last summer, I went to Oxford for two weeks for a writing program. That program–and summertime in general–gave me the chance to explore interests that I don’t have time for in during school.
I’ll tell you about my summer plans for this year in a bit, but first: I’m a huge advocate of everyone making the most out of their summers, and I’m going to tell you how I’d do it.
Summer is the most valuable part of a kid’s year–but most of us aren’t using it properly.
If you want to help your kid create the best summer plan possible (even if it’s last minute), follow the three F’s: family, fun, and future.
First up: family.
90% of the time a kid spends with their parents is over by the time they leave for college. That’s a scary statistic. But, summer is the perfect time to strengthen your relationship with your kid and spend as much time with them as you can.
Find small activities that you can do with your kid throughout the summer–whether it’s watching a show (or a sports team!) together or trying out fun “summer” recipes. Spend time doing little things that they’ll remember for the rest of their life.
If possible, taking a family vacation is another great way to foster your connection and have experiences you won’t forget. Even better, try to be adventurous on vacation and do things that–as a family–you normally wouldn’t. Going to the beach and swimming with sharks or learning to scuba dive are such memorable experiences for the family.
Next: fun.
Of course, it’s super important for kids to have fun with their summer. It’s a chance for them to enjoy their childhood and explore who they are without the distractions of school occupying their time. Make sure your kid takes the time to experiment with new hobbies and try new things. There aren’t any expectations when school is out, so make sure your kid takes advantage of the freedom.
Some example “new” activities could include…
Rock climbing
Baking cupcakes
Playing an instrument
These new hobbies can be anything your kid finds interesting. They don't have to be clearly relevant to their academic or professional goals–your kid can just choose a new skill or habit they want to learn, just for fun.
And lastly (and most importantly for high schoolers!): future.
Summer is the time for kids to work towards the future they dream of. They don’t have to worry about academics, so instead they can spend their time developing their passion and doing cool things to help prepare them for their future.
Encourage them to take a for-credit college course, start a YouTube channel or podcast, write a research paper, host a TedX Youth conference, or reach out to someone they admire. There are so many opportunities for your kid to start establishing who they are and build up their resume. If you want personalized recommendations as to what your kid could do this summer, please reach out to me! I’d love to help.
Austin’s Anecdote: My summer plans (and how they relate to my long-term goals)
So, taking all of that into account, here is my last-minute–as always–summer plan (using the three F’s):