According to most Bay Area public school’s calendars, students have just about a month and half left to enjoy their summer break before the 2011- 2012 school year begins. While I was in school, summer break was one of the most anticipated points of the year (behind winter break of course). In high school, most of my summers were dedicated to traveling across the country playing in various basketball tournaments and participating in basketball camps. Even though basketball monopolized my summer vacation, I still found time to engage in other activities such as summer school and educational enrichment programs. I would like to thank my mom for that!
Similar to how dedicating hours upon hours in hot gyms developed my skills as an athlete and prepared me for the following season, taking higher level math courses and SAT prep courses during the summer prepared me academically for the next school year. As a result, I started the school year with a great sense of confidence in my abilities and was able to stay ahead of the curve and excel in classes that I probably would have struggled in otherwise. Each summer, including college, remained tied to two things: preparing myself academically for the next year and athletically for the next season. I never really considered my summer as a break or a vacation, but rather a time for preparation.
The value of having two months to improve, get introduced, or become proficient in an area of study is immeasurable. I highly encourage students to get involved in a summer program if they are not currently participating in one. I also encourage parents to actively seek out academic summer programs in their community for their children. For a list of academic summer camps happening in the Bay Area please click here. And as always, check out our online database, www.collegeboundbros.org, for summer and school year programs . Enjoy the rest of your summer!
