The holidays have passed, the first semester has been completed, and that stressful period between winter and spring break has rolled around again. January and February, pressure-packed with deadlines, essays, and exams, are always two extremely stressful months for high schoolers at Riverdale. In addition to the never-ending list of assessments, there is a question looming in the back of our minds: how will we make the most of next summer? Despite the frigid temperature, the time has come for us to meticulously plan out our schedules between June and August. To fill this time, many Riverdale students turn to the vast array of summer programs offered by Riverdale and other organizations. 

But where should one even start? It’s extremely daunting to stare at an empty search bar and type in “High School Summer Programs/Internships” hoping that the perfect way to spend your summer will pop up. Sadly, that is not usually how these things work. A “good” program often means different things to different people. Although attending prestigious programs or activities have the potential to look good on an application, it loses immense significance if it does not align with the student’s specific interests. 

Sophomore Victoria Shen, having participated in numerous creative writing programs, gave her take on the subject. After being asked if she thought it was better to apply to more prestigious programs versus ones in which a student could pursue their interests, she explained that “if you don’t like what you’re doing, even if it looks good on a college…application, your disinterest will eventually show through.” She proceeded to speak to the importance of following one’s curiosities and passions when applying to summer opportunities, and that, ultimately, “if you really want to achieve something, that true desire has to come from yourself.”

When asked this same question, Ms. Meg Johnson, Dean of the Class of 2025, answered similarly claiming that “If [one ends] up pursuing something just because it is prestigious, [they] probably won’t enjoy it,” and said that they “probably won’t make anything of it.” One must balance prestige and individual interest when it comes to programs and other summer opportunities because without passion there is no drive. Consequently, without drive, one is not motivated to participate fully and does not get everything one can out of the experience, thereby making it a waste of time. Although reputability is a positive factor to consider when exploring summer opportunities, without the drive and passion for fully immersing oneself, an esteemed program is simply a detached experience and thus does not act as a productive use of a student’s summer. 

Ms. Georgia Tucker, Director of Project Knowmad and Summer Study Programs, strongly suggests that students, “do [their] research!” She recommends “Idealist.org [as] a great place to start to get a sense of the volunteer/internship landscape in New York and beyond.” Additionally, if students wish to check out activities associated with Riverdale, “families and alumni [generously] give… their time and expertise to students in the form of internships and job shadowing opportunities in a number of fields.” 

So browse Google, ask around, and educate yourself on the opportunities that are out there. Summer activities are a great way to show colleges what intrigues you and the effort you are willing to put in to pursue those interests. Furthermore, programs that include fees often offer financial assistance, making them more accessible to all students interested. Applying to courses and internships may feel like another thing to check off our lists, however, we must view this process as an opportunity to broaden our intellectual horizons and dive deeper into our innermost passions.