School's Out: To Attend A Summer Program, or Not?

By: Jenny Zhi

The thirty of us represented over a dozen countries

The students who have received acceptances to amazing, enriching summer programs: first, congratulations are in order. Applying to summer programs is very much like applying to colleges, what with the essays, recommendation letters, and financial aid applications that are necessary. Kudos to you for surviving all of that one/two/three years early – the experience you gained is only going to help you come the real deal.

Second: you may not want to attend these programs this summer.

Let me back up a bit. Last year around this time, I had received a few summer program acceptances, some of which gave me a good amount of scholarship. On top of that, I was named a Joyce Ivy Summer Scholar and given some money from the Joyce Ivy Foundation. I was looking forward to getting away from home for a few weeks and was ready for an awesome pre-college experience.

I ended up not going to any of them, and instead, participated in a project called Ride to Freedom. Quick summary: Ride to Freedom was a cross-country bike journey from Los Angeles to Washington D.C., embarked on by 30 young men and women from all around the world, all of whom are Falun Gong practitioners. Falun Gong is a meditation practice that has been severely persecuted by the Chinese government for almost two decades, and the purpose of the ride was to spread awareness about the unjustified torture and murder. (Learn more at www.ride2freedom.org)

Our riders meditating, a part of the Flun Gong practice

Ride to Freedom took about two months, and it was two of the most amazing months of my life. In between shivering at night in the Rocky Mountains, burning while biking through the Mojave Desert, and suffering through losing a small chunk of flesh on my left knee, I biked through beautiful scenery, spoke to some influential people and policymakers of the United States, and really got to know some of the most amazing, determined kids from around the world. Being a Falun Gong practitioner, it was also a platform for me to speak out about an issue that I’m very concerned about.

We discovered some absolutely beautiful places. This picture was taken in the Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada

The main purpose of attending pre-college programs is to broaden your horizons, but it’s important to remember that pre-college programs are not the only way to achieve an amazing summer experience. I found that experience through Ride to Freedom. So it’s not that you shouldn’t attend pre-college programs – previous Joyce Ivy Scholars can attest to the fact that pre-college is amazing. It’s just that other options have other results, and depending on what you’re aiming to achieve, something other than pre-college programs may be a better fit for you. For new Summer Scholars, Summer Scholar alumni, and others who are still deciding how to spend their summer, here’s a short list of possibilities!

• Sports/Marching band – Marching band and many school sports require summer practices. Team activities such as these build teamwork skills, and if you stick with it throughout high school, it shows commitment and dedication, something colleges are definitely looking for. Also, it’s not bad to spend some time outside in the summer, getting fit and replenishing that vitamin D.  
• Travel – If you’re studying a foreign language, take advantage of the free time you have during the summer and travel to a foreign country! Not only can you hone your language skills, you’ll learn about another culture, which always makes for great adventures and great stories.
• Internships – Internships are a great opportunity to experience what work in the future is going to be like. No matter what your interest is, chances are there’s a high school internship available for you to take advantage of. Also popular are research internships, which can be obtained through correspondence with university professors. In many cases, you can enter this research into science fairs such as the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair and the Siemens Competition.
• Community Service – Volunteering at the local animal shelter, giving tours at the art museum, or building houses in a developing country are all examples of community service that high schoolers have participated in. Volunteering not only shows that you’re willing to help out those who are less fortunate than you, but it also sheds light on what you’re passionate about and develops personality.
• Summer Jobs – Taking on a job shows maturity and responsibility. The extra spending money and reduced college loans that result from it are a plus. Find a job that caters to your interests! If you’re into art, for example, become a teaching assistant at an art studio. If you feel like you have a super great idea, don’t hesitate to start a business!
• Pre-college Programs – Can’t forget these, of course. Earning college credit, making new friends, living in a college dorm, and learning new things – all pros of pre-college! Read any of the Fellow Friday posts to see what Joyce Ivy Fellows have gotten out of their pre-college programs.

Being the young folks we are, we started a selfie campaign! After relaying our story to somebody, we'd take a selfie with him/her and post it on our Facebook page. By the end of the journey, we had accumulated over 1,000 selfies. 

The end of this list does not signify the end to your possibilities. Summer is a break from the routine of high school life – use it to step outside of your comfort zone and discover something new, either about you or the world around you. As for myself, since I missed out on the pre-college experience last summer, I’ll be attending a summer program this summer!

Ride to Freedom shenanigans :)