The Summer That Changed Everything: Meaningful Ways High Schoolers Can Invest Their Time -- Part 1

Written by: ASE Editorial Team

The summer stretches before you like an empty canvas. Will it be filled with distraction and

consumption, or will you, like the young Franklin, make it the beginning of something

meaningful? But guess what?

High School Students Excited About Summer Holiday

When Benjamin Franklin was just 16 years old, he didn't spend his summer lounging by a pool or mindlessly consuming entertainment. Story has it that the young Franklin created a pseudonym, Silence Dogood, and slipped essays under the door of his brother's newspaper office. These letters, published to great acclaim, began a lifetime of purpose-driven work.

Today's high schoolers face a different world than Franklin did, but the principle remains: summer isn't just a break from education—it's an opportunity for growth that few recognize and even fewer seize. While peers scroll through endless social media feeds, the wisest young people understand what the ancient Stoics taught: time is our most precious and non-renewable resource.

Beyond the Resume Rat Race: Finding Genuine Value in Summer Activities for High Schoolers

Remember, college admissions officers can spot manufactured experiences from miles away. Consider these five realistic, accessible options that provide actual growth rather than just resume fodder.

1. The Forgotten Art of Deep Work

In a fast paced world that has been leaning more towards instant gratification and consumption, most high schoolers have never experienced true focus. This summer could be different, and this is where parents come in by helping their children choose one skill—whether programming, writing, drawing, or playing an instrument—and practice it with what Cal Newport calls "deep work": distraction-free, challenging concentration, this gets even better when it is an activity that challenges the child and helps him or her grow and learn more about their intended field of study (in the future) or their future professions and careers.

When Theodore Roosevelt was a sickly teenager, he didn't make excuses. He dedicated himself to physical transformation through consistent, focused effort. Your summer transformation might be intellectual rather than physical, but the principle is identical: sustained attention creates breakthrough results.

2. Work That Teaches Reality

The investor and philosopher Naval Ravikant once observed that modern life insulates us from reality—until it doesn't. Summer jobs, particularly those involving customer service or manual labor, reintroduce reality in ways classroom education cannot.

The waitress who learns to deal with difficult customers develops resilience that will serve her in every future endeavor. The landscaper who works through the July heat gains perspective on physical labor that books alone cannot provide. Even a few weeks of such work can instill gratitude, grit, and practical wisdom that many adults lack, and high schoolers who take part in such activities learn the importance of working hard and also develop mindsets that are necessary for thriving in other aspects of their lives.

Expert Tip: ☀️The summer season isn’t about having a great plan—For high schoolers, it’s a chance to explore. For parents and teachers, it’s just about showing up with encouragement and a little trust. We’re all in this together!

How Should High Schoolers Spend the Summer?

3. Self-Directed Learning Beyond Institutional Walls

In 1897, a young Charles Darwin wasn't following a curriculum during summer—he was collecting beetles, following his curiosity, and building the observational skills that would later revolutionize our understanding of life itself.

Today's high schoolers have advantages Darwin never imagined: free university courses online, virtually unlimited books, and experts accessible through email or social media. The student who chooses a subject—whether it's game theory, architectural design, or behavioral economics—and pursues it independently develops something more valuable than specific knowledge: they learn how to learn without external structure. The support of parents and teachers is also vital in these pursuits, as they can encourage the children to their curiosity and also help them build on it when the summer begins to kick in.

The Common or Uncommon Thread: What connects all these suggestions?

Responding to this question now might just produce an incomplete thread. Let's pause here for now. Return for the remaining two realistic options plus what Marcus Aurelius wrote about "self" and the verdict for "The Common or Uncommon Thread". Where will the focus lead us?

Like the young Franklin, the summer stretches before you like an empty canvas. Will it be filled with distraction and consumption, or will you, like the young Franklin, make it the beginning of something meaningful?

============================ More for you. ===================

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Remember: Blog content and information on the website are for informational purposes and therefore should not be considered as medical advice. Please reach out to your doctor or school counsellor if you have questions about your child.