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Plan for the Year Ahead
§ Meet with your counselor to discuss your college plans. Review your schedule with him or her to make sure you're enrolled in challenging classes that will help you prepare for college. Colleges prefer four years of English, history, math, science, and a foreign language.
§ Start a calendar with important dates and deadlines.
§ Get more involved with your extra-curricular activities.
§ Use CFNC to find out the required courses and tests of colleges that you might be interested in attending.
§ Go to college fairs in your area.
Participating in an extracurricular activity-be it student government, a sport, a part time job or volunteering while maintaining good grades, demonstrates:
§ Time-management skills
§ Ability to prioritize
§ Motivation
§ Responsibility
§ Leadership qualities
Think outside the box
Doing something constructive with summer vacation doesn't necessarily mean having a traditional job. Students who are really into performing or sports may want to devote their full-time energy to formally developing these skills. Encourage these students to look into special programs or summer college classes open to high school students.
Volunteer
Spending a summer pitching in at a local charity is a great way for students to learn about life and themselves. It can help them develop leadership skills that will last a lifetime.
Read! Read! Read!
Whatever students decide to do this summer-work, volunteer, intern, or study-encourage them to read. Reading opens students' minds and introduces them to other worlds, while sharpening important skills such as comprehension and vocabulary.
How to Get Involved
There are many people, places, and organizations that need volunteers. Here are some tips for getting started:
§ Look around your community and in the phone book to see what programs are there. Call and ask if they need help.
§ Visit your city or town website. It may list volunteer opportunities in your community.
§ Contact your local United Way, cultural arts association, student organization, or another association that can point you in the right direction.
§ Ask your library, church or synagogue, and/or community colleges if they sponsor any volunteer groups.
§ Check out the following websites to learn more about causes and to find volunteer opportunities near you.
§ http://www. VolunteerMatch .org
§ http://www. Do Something .org
Ask Yourself these Questions Before You Volunteer:
It's important that you enjoy the type of service you choose and that you have the time to stick with it. Ask yourself these questions before you commit to an organization:
§ How much time do I have to commit?
§ Do I want an ongoing regularly-scheduled assignment, a short-term assignment, or a one-time assignment?
§ Am I willing to participate in a training course or do I want to start my volunteer work immediately?
§ Which talents or skills do I offer?
§ What would I most like to learn by volunteering?
§ What don't I want to do as a volunteer?
§ Do I want to work alone or with a group?
§ With what kind of people do I want to work-both in terms of who is receiving my services and who my co-workers might be?
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