Instead of lazily lounging by the pool this summer, taking advantage of an academic break is the best usage of the months when we don’t have school. Due to tight schedules during the school year, students are unable to fully explore different areas of interest. The summer months provide the perfect solution to this, enabling students to proactively seek opportunities for growth through summer classes, camps and internships.  

Rising sophomores can complete semester courses at Hockaday, which gives more opportunities for students to take an interdisciplinary course or add a free period during the next school year. Additionally, students in different grades can take advantage of the extra free time and learn course material ahead of the upcoming school year to lessen the load. 

As high schoolers, exploration is key to discovering our interests and possible paths for our future careers. Summer internships and camps can provide an immersive experience, and sometimes paid, in those specific fields. For example, if a student is interested in the medical field, several opportunities exist for them to shadow professionals in hospitals.  

For students used to the hustle of high school, the onslaught of unscheduled time can be stressful, so an academic summer provides an opportunity to build up a consistent routine while keeping school topics fresh in mind. 

While having fun and relaxing during the summer is important, making the most of the months away from mandatory instruction allows for both accelerated growth and opportunities to improve in the future.