What Should Students Be Doing This Summer?
A Guide for High Schoolers, College Students, and Recent Grads
Summer is coming—and with it, a flood of emotions, expectations, and opportunities. As the school year ends, families everywhere are preparing to welcome back young adults who may have just survived their first year of college, completed high school, or walked across a graduation stage with a diploma in hand and uncertainty in heart.
This season can be a strange transition. That shy 17-year-old you dropped off at college may return with opinions, confidence, or perhaps with questions about what’s next. Your high schooler may be knee-deep in SAT prep, trying to finalize a college list. Your recent graduate may be staring at the ceiling, wondering how to break into a career, or wondering if it’s okay to rest before running toward the next thing.
Here’s the truth: summer can be a deeply valuable time of growth. And no matter what age or stage your young person is in, there’s something meaningful they can do. Let’s explore summer options by age and life stage—with real examples, links, and guidance on how to build a summer of purpose and restoration.
For High School Students: Explore, Volunteer, Learn
1. Explore Colleges (but with balance)
Summer is prime time for campus visits—but don’t make it all about checklists. Visit campuses, talk to students, and then have a picnic in a nearby park. Make it an experience.
Try this:
Roadtrip Nation's College Road Trip Toolkit:
https://roadtripnation.com
YouVisit Virtual Campus Tours: https://www.youvisit.com/collegesearch/
2. Volunteer Locally or with a Cause They Love
Volunteering is not just for padding resumes—it’s a way to build confidence, networks, and real-world experience.
Examples:
Local Libraries or Museums often have teen volunteer programs. Example: New York Public Library Teen Volunteers
Humane Society: https://www.humanesociety.org/volunteer
Habitat for Humanity Youth Programs: https://www.habitat.org/volunteer/youth-programs
3. Summer Jobs
A job teaches more than just how to punch a time clock. It teaches responsibility, budgeting, and time management.
Good starter jobs:
Camp counselor
Lifeguard
Retail assistant
Grocery store cashier
Farm stand or farmers market helper
Encourage them to reflect on each experience. What did they learn about themselves? What skills did they build?
4. Learn Something New (Micro-credentials)
High school students can explore career pathways or hobbies through short courses or certifications.
Free/Low-Cost Resources:
Google Career Certificates:
https://grow.google
Coursera Teen Learning Paths:
https://www.coursera.org
Khan Academy College Prep: https://www.khanacademy.org/college-careers-more/college-admissions
5. Professional Organizations
Many national organizations offer student memberships or mentorship programs.
National Society of High School Scholars:
https://www.nshss.org
Youth Service America:
https://ysa.org
For College Students: Reboot, Resume, Refocus
College life is intense. Summer is the time to breathe and build.
1. Get a Job or Internship
This may seem obvious, but a summer job or internship doesn’t have to be perfect—it just needs to move you forward.
Job Boards:
Handshake:
https://joinhandshake.com
(college students only)
CoolWorks (Jobs in National Parks & Outdoors):
https://www.coolworks.com
Idealist (Nonprofit Internships):
https://www.idealist.org
Pro Tip: Apply early—internships often fill by late spring.
2. Volunteer with Purpose
Find a cause that aligns with a major, career interest, or passion project.
Ideas:
Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ youth support): https://www.thetrevorproject.org/volunteer/
HRC – Human Rights Campaign: https://www.hrc.org/volunteer
Local food banks or mutual aid networks
3. Build Skills with Online Learning
College students can use summer to build tangible skills that aren’t always covered in class.
Popular Micro-Credentials:
LinkedIn Learning: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/
edX Certificates:
https://www.edx.org
Skillshare:
https://www.skillshare.com
Focus areas could include:
Data analysis
Social media marketing
Public speaking
Coding
Mental health first aid
4. Freelance or Start Something
Have a skill? Put it to work!
Ideas:
Tutor high school students
Sell artwork or crafts on Etsy
Offer pet sitting, photography, or resume writing
Sites to try:
Upwork:
https://www.upwork.com
Fiverr:
https://www.fiverr.com
5. Mental Health & Personal Recharge
Encourage balance. Turn off the doom scroll, log off TikTok, and reconnect with joy.
Mental Health Tools:
Headspace (Free for students): https://www.headspace.com/students
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
The Jed Foundation:
https://jedfoundation.org
Help your young adult develop a routine. Sleeping until 3 PM every day might feel like recovery, but it’s also disruptive. Encourage daily movement, reading, and small wins.
For Recent Grads: Launch, Network, Pivot
This group may feel the most pressure. The “what now?” moment looms large. Summer can be a soft runway into adulthood—or at least the first lap.
1. Apply for Jobs (Smartly, Not Desperately)
It’s tempting to apply to everything. Instead, apply with strategy and intentionality.
Great Job Boards:
WayUp (for recent grads):
https://www.wayup.com
LinkedIn Jobs: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs
USAJobs (for federal work):
https://www.usajobs.gov
Tip: Build a spreadsheet of jobs you’re applying to and follow up.
2. Join a Professional Association
Professional groups can provide mentorship, job leads, and community.
Examples:
Young Professionals in Foreign Policy:
https://www.ypfp.org
PRSA New Professionals Section: https://www.prsa.org/network/communities/new-professionals
American Psychological Association (APA) Early Career Network:
https://www.apa.org
3. Continue Learning
Many recent grads benefit from pursuing certifications or graduate-level prep.
Popular Platforms:
Google UX Design Certificate: https://grow.google/certificates/ux-design/
HarvardX (Free courses):
https://online-learning.harvard.edu/
Also consider test prep for grad school:
Khan Academy MCAT and LSAT prep
Magoosh GRE prep:
https://magoosh.com
4. Informational Interviews & Networking
Now is the time to schedule coffee chats with professionals. Use your alumni network!
Great tools:
LinkedIn Alumni Tool
Lunchclub.ai for networking:
https://www.lunchclub.com
Ask:
What was your first job out of college?
What do you wish you knew when you started?
Can I shadow you for a day?
5. Consider AmeriCorps or Service Years
Not everyone needs to jump into a 9-to-5. A year of service can be transformational.
Programs to Explore:
AmeriCorps:
https://www.americorps.gov
City Year:
https://www.cityyear.org
Public Allies:
https://publicallies.org
Final Thoughts: Summer is What You Make It
No matter what age or stage, this summer is an opportunity. It doesn’t have to be packed with productivity, but it should include purpose. Let your young person rest, reflect, and try something new. Help them learn to structure their own downtime—because no one will be planning lightsaber battles in the quad from here on out.
And remember: Mental health matters. Fun matters. Laughter matters. Skills matter. Let this summer be one of joy, exploration, growth, and maybe a little income on the side.
Below are examples of a schedule
Customizable Summer Plan: High School Student (College-Bound)
Goal: Explore college options, develop skills, and maintain balance.
Week 1–2: Exploration and Planning
Visit 1–2 local colleges (virtual or in-person)
Research college majors that match interests (e.g., College Board BigFuture)
Set a summer goal: e.g., complete a resume, write 1 essay draft
Week 3–4: Skill Building & Volunteering
Start volunteering at a:
Local food pantry
Animal shelter
Library summer reading program
Join a free micro-course like Google Digital Garage or Khan Academy
Week 5–6: Application Prep
Draft a personal college essay
Create a Common App account and begin profile
Build or update a resume using Canva Resume Builder
Week 7–8: Self-Care & Community
Take one day a week as a screen-free self-care day
Explore nature, go hiking, or journal at a park
Attend a local community event or town meeting
Schedule a family meeting to talk about college plans
Customizable Summer Plan: College Student (Rising Sophomore or Upperclassman)
Goal: Build professional experience, gain credentials, and reset.
Week 1–2: Career & Academic Check-In
Schedule a meeting with your college career services center
Apply to 5–10 internships or part-time jobs (check Indeed, Handshake)
Choose one micro-credential to complete by end of summer (e.g., Coursera or LinkedIn Learning)
Week 3–4: Community & Network
Volunteer for a cause aligned with your major or passion:
Join a student/alumni professional group on LinkedIn
Conduct one informational interview with someone in your field
Week 5–6: Personal & Professional Growth
Update resume and LinkedIn profile
Attend a networking event (virtual or local)
Week 7–8: Recharge & Reflect
Go tech-free one day per week to reset
Reflect on your academic year: What went well? What do you want to change?
Spend time doing something nostalgic (paint, bike ride, read fiction)
For fillable copies of these worksheets, please contact me at scott@garbinied.com or go to my website at www.garbinied.com