Make the most of your summer (regardless of your plans)
Summer is a magical yet stressful time for most students. You might have an action-packed summer schedule filled with intensive classes and enriching activities, or you might have nothing planned in particular, or you might be somewhere in between. I’ve spoken with many students who want to make the most of their summer because they are anxious about falling behind their peers when it comes to the race toward college. Although I’m not a fan of this sentiment, I do understand and empathize with everyone who is experiencing it. Fortunately, regardless of what you’re doing this summer vacation, journaling can help you maximize your experience in a healthy and personalized way.
Remembering and Documenting
One of the biggest obstacles to getting the most out of an experience comes long after the fact when you try to recall important details. Simply put, it’s often difficult to remember your experiences. Imagine you’re recounting the story of your amazing summer program to a friend or writing about it in a college essay. It’s very common to realize when it’s too late that you can’t remember anything beyond the basic big-picture details. Even photographs don’t always help. They might jog certain memories but will invariably leave out important details like an inspirational idea you had on the third day of camp, or the specific point of frustration from an argument on a family trip. It might be obvious, but you can avoid this by simply writing things down. Each day, jot down where you went, what you saw, and how you felt. Describe the sights, sounds, and even the smells. This practice not only helps cement these memories in your mind but also provides a vivid record you can revisit later.
Making Meaning and Connections
Journaling will also allow you to make the most of any experience because it will help you more thoroughly process your thoughts and feelings. As you sit down and write, you’re reliving the events as you recount what happened. You create a space for yourself to reflect; inserting your own commentary and analysis. Through all of this, you enable yourself to go beyond the immediate experience, draw connections, and see patterns. For example, you might connect your reaction at ocean conservation camp with your sense of curiosity during AP Bio class with your love of hiking through the mountains. These connections and patterns will help you see your experience as part of a larger narrative. You’re not just floating from one event to the next; you’re building a story of personal growth and development. This narrative can be incredibly motivating and insightful, helping you understand where you’ve been and where you want to go.
If you’re interested in learning more about how journaling can help you through your high school journey and even set you up for your future college applications, check out these other posts: