As second semester of senior year rolled through, many of us sat back and enjoyed ourselves after working hard and going through the college application process. After AP testing, it was tough to gain the motivation to keep learning and absorbing classroom information. However, the summer before freshman year of college is the perfect time to get accustomed to learning again -- since you have the freedom to learn about anything you want, as it is probably going to be your last time without any educational obligations for the summer. So, instead of being thrown for a loop in the college classroom, try to make your entire transition process a bit easier with these tips.
1. Read a book.
This is an obvious one, but it may be a hard one to find the motivation for without any summer reading assignments for school. Try picking up a classic -- you have the freedom to choose any of them. You may even be able to find one that interests you, which you can read on the beach or by the pool this summer.
2. Explore SparkNotes.
Take the book and use SparkNotes (or Shmoop, if that’s your style) when you finish reading -- read the character and plot analyses and try to gain a different perspective of what you read. This can help you simulate a class discussion, where you can see other outlooks on symbols and sub plot lines in order to challenge your initial reactions to the work.
3. Go to a museum.
Regardless of whether or not you’re into art, analyzing work in a museum is a fun and easy way to get your brain exercising. Visit your nearest city with a few friends and check out some art museums, and then hold discussions about the works on the train ride home.
4. Watch educational TV shows.
Trade the mindless sitcoms and dramas for Vice Land programs like “Gaycation” or “States of Undress.” These are mind-opening, documentary-style programs that let you travel with the journalists at Vice as they explore social norms around the world, and it will help you gain perspective of worldly issues in a beyond interesting way.
5. Pick up a creative project.
Write a book or a screenplay, start a blog or even conduct a small research project. Get moving with something pertaining to the field you'll be studying come fall to maximize your overall readiness for the educational haul of college.
Gaining as many perspectives as possible is the best way to gain the most knowledge, and with the mind-opening opportunities of the college experience and meeting so many different individuals, getting used to hearing alternate perspectives right now will help you tackle college life with the same exact mindset. So, enjoy your time on the beach, of course, but try using these guidelines to help you to make the most out of your last summer before going away to school -- both socially and educationally.
