Notes From the College Counseling Office: Let’s talk Summer!
Each month, Stone’s College Counseling team — Director of College Counseling Abby Kirchner and College Counselor Genevieve Munson — shares their philosophy and approach to the ever-changing world of College Counseling. Today, Genevieve Munson offers advice to students on the cusp of making summer plans.
“Be interesting people who do interesting things. Read. Engage with the work that you do.”
These are the principles guiding Abby and me as we work with students towards their Lives After Stone, and these are the same ones at the core of how we encourage students at every grade level, from 7th-12th, to approach their summers.
Yes, some programs, like Lancaster General Hospital’s teen volunteer opportunities, remain on pause. Still, many paid and volunteer positions are back in-person and looking for lifeguards, researchers, program leaders, and everything in between.
A summer course (on a college campus or online) is one way to explore a topic, but we encourage students to shape their own roles in areas of interest. Use your voice and your skills to act or amplify the actions and voices of others. Local, national, and international humanitarian agencies are looking for help–some in person and others virtually.
There are organizations here in Lancaster working to support refugees, advocate for educational change, or ameliorate the effects of climate change. Don’t know where to start or seeking a non-local option? There are databases for groups aligned with what you are passionate about, or start local and begin some meaningful conversations before shaping some of your own.
For those interested in urban planning, accessible housing, or government and public policy, to name a few, seek out ways to engage. Locally, Lancaster County is working on its Places 2040 comprehensive planning initiative. Or, Lancaster City does not appear to have a youth advisory committee to support Mayor Sorace’s office. Is that an opportunity to research, solicit interest from peers across the city, and propose one?
And add to what you are already doing. Traveling? Atlas Obscura or similar resources could guide a side-trip or two and help you uncover new avenues for understanding art, history, culture, or other known interests.
Above all, read–articles, books, reread favorites, or ask your teachers for recommendations on a subject you have studied with them and want to explore more. Reading empowers. Through it, we affirm or expand our ideas and learn how to make change. This is the meaningful work that we can undertake year-round, but summers–their shift in schedule and room for personal growth–are the perfect time to find ways to explore and discover ways to make a positive impact by doing interesting things.
See also: The Mark We Make, Notes From the College Counseling Office: Fit or Rank?, College Universities, and Programs Accepting Stone Studentsl