In the summer, arguably the busiest season of all for the ambitious high-school student, there is a plethora of activities one can choose from: from summer internships to volunteering at the local soup kitchen to one's first job, the possibilities are endless.
The question is, then, what to do?
While it may be tempting to cave in to parental pressure and just go for the most swanky-looking, prestigious program that will accept you, there are many other factors to consider when choosing your summer activities.
First, remember to take care of your own satisfaction. Whatever activity you choose, you're going to be stuck with it for about three months, give or take a week for different school year lengths across the country. So you'd better be darn sure that you'll like what you commit to doing.
Second, know that you're more likely to stand out doing something you genuinely love, rather than just something that you're doing "for the application". Just because you're working at a small high-tech startup, that doesn't mean that you're necessarily good at it, enthusiastic about it, or even ideally-suited for it. And if you're not suited for what you're doing, other people will notice it. And they most likely won't like it, either.
Third, and most importantly of all, remember that no matter how much you want to get done in the summer, one of the most important things to do in the summer is just to relax. The regular school year is stressful enough; it's important to allow yourself to recharge over the summer so you'll be ready to slog through one more grueling year of academics come September.
