Discover > Magazine > September 2012 > Trends: Busy bees
< September 2012 magazine
TRENDS: BUSY BEES
Make the most of your vacation
story by Sarah Moreland
Recently, breaks from the classroom haven’t always
meant lazing about at home. More high school students
are using days off from school to explore a new country,
discover what college is all about, or make a difference in
their community.
Faraway lands: Dream of visiting a foreign country? See
if your school has any opportunities to study abroad.
Foreign language and history departments often offer
study-abroad trips during summer vacations. By going in
a group, you could get travel discounts or earn scholarships
if they’re available.
Not sure yet if you want to spend an entire summer away
from home? Try a short-term trip during fall or spring
break. A weeklong trip can give you enough time to see a
country’s main sights—without being gone long enough
to get homesick.
Sneak peeks: If you’re ready to see what collegiate life is
like, apply for a summer program at a college or university
you’re interested in. Many programs will let you stay
in a residence hall on-campus with access to campus
buildings, restaurants, theaters, libraries and more. Not
only will you see what life after high school could be like,
you could also earn early college credit and get a head
start on getting your degree.
Fall philanthropy: As a Key Clubber, you already love
serving others. Why not continue serving while school
isn’t in session? Some schools sponsor an “alternative
fall break,” a community service project (or series of
projects over several days) that any student can join
and help. If your school doesn’t sponsor any projects
during vacation, ask your school administrators if you
could start one. KC
