Hot Hot (Utilized) Summer
by Albert L.
It’s that time – when finals have just finished and you’ve heard the triumphant ringing of the last bell for the school year. The rising temperatures are beckoning you to soak up some sunshine and it’s your chance to reshape the mush that is your brain from all that studying. After a long year, you probably deserve a much-needed break.
However, as tempting as it might be to veg out on your couch and just scroll through an avalanche of ‘Is it cake?’ videos the whole summer, you want to make sure your summer is also filled with growth. And you can use these moments of positive blooming to write about.
If you were able to snag a coveted internship, you’re no doubt going to have a very busy summer. If you haven’t, you might want to try reaching out to different organizations or professionals. I’ve had students in the past that were able to obtain mentorships and internships just by cold emailing a bunch of places. You might get a lot of rejections and nonresponses, but all you need is one yes.
However, even if you don’t, you can set mini projects for yourself. In fact, even if you do have an internship, you want to make sure you nurture some passions you might have neglected during the school year.
EXPLORE – The summer is a great time to just see the possibilities of what can be, not just what is expected of you. This is especially true for younger adults just entering high school. Sometimes, these little avenues can lead to lifelong passions. If you’ve been meaning to learn that programming language, but didn’t quite have the time? Now is the time. If you’ve wanted to start a business, devise a business plan! That little dystopian allegory you’ve been kicking around in your head? It won’t write itself.
JOIN A GROUP – This can either be from volunteer work, or to further home in on your passion. Being a part of communities will allow you to learn sage insights and advice from more veteran members. And with time, you also will have the opportunity to give back to newer members and build. With the internet, you can find a group for just about anything. You could find a group that mods your favorite videogame. Join a metal band. Sew your way into a historical costume group. Find your tribe.
READ A BOOK – During the school year, there’s just no way that a teacher is going to be able to assign supplemental readings that tackle the most thought provoking and in-depth material while also skewing towards your interests. In school, you’re too busy learning the basics and fundamentals. Exposing yourself to more nuanced historical, sociological, and artistic interconnections with reading can pave the way for deeper insights and perspectives about the world.
Now what does this have to do with writing with Essay Narwhal? Three months can pass by in a blink. The reason for the above sections in showing ways you can utilize your summer is so that when it’s actually time to write, you have something to write about. So many students, even if they do well in school grade wise, squander their summer and don’t really show who they are outside of school.
There can be great memories that are captured during the time, whether that comes from travel, time out with friends, or intellectual pursuits. You want to make sure that you’re capturing these moments.
Start a Journal – I’d recommend having a journal and just writing in it weekly. This could be a physical journal or even a private blog. You shouldn’t need to spend too much time. When you’ve had a profound insight after reading a book, jot down quotes that were really thought provoking. If you took part in a pivotal event during the summer that took a wrong turn, try to think about the emotions and some of the details surrounding the event.
When you’re tasked to finally write a college essay, having a journal is like having a cheat sheet. This can be especially helpful for the many students who recall their memories with murky details. With a journal, you can comb through relevant details, and bring those memories back with more clarity.
The practice of writing will also train you to write more competently. Practice makes perfect. No one is grading these entries, but you can start to notice patterns in how you formulate thoughts to words. By experimenting, you’ll no doubt get closer to the type of writing that best depicts the adventures you’ll hopefully dive into this summer.
