Woo…No more high school!!!!! umm…What do I do now?”

Hello! I don’t believe we’ve met. My name is Lily, and it is a pleasure to meet you. I’m new to the CLPTeensburgh blog (this is my very first post, YAY!) so please allow me to introduce myself. I am student at Stanford University, and this summer I am an intern at the Carnegie Library in Oakland. Hopefully, you will be hearing from me at least once a week, and I look forward to hearing from you too. So without further ado…

To all the recent high school graduates out there… Congratulations! I know (and you know) how hard you have worked to get to this moment. Now, you are going out into the world: to college, to take a year off, to work, to wherever your dreams take you, and I am sure that you are ready. However, just in case you have a little extra room in your suitcase, here are some of my thoughts about the summer after high school.

1. On Life after High School

Please humor me for a minute while I reminisce. At this time last year, I was at home, laying out in the sun on the back porch, talking to my friends, and enjoying the feeling of being free from homework, finals, college apps., not to mentions the SATs and the APs and the PSSAs and all the other acronyms that had made high school a little less pleasant. I could not believe that I was done with all of that. FOREVER!!! (hysterical laughter ensues). However, those test and procedures had given structure to my life, and with no more practice tests to eat up my day, I was just a little bit lost as to what to do with my life.

In case you find yourself in a similar rut, here are some ideas of what to do during the summer months:

• Apply for scholarships: College is pricey, and even if you have great financial aid, a little extra money won’t hurt you (in fact, sometimes the essay/artwork/movie is really fun!). In the search for scholarships, here are some helpful guides: Scholarships 101 (book) , The Ultimate Scholarship Book 2009, The Scholarship & Financial Aid Solution (book) , Fast Web (website), and your high school/college financial aid offices. Often, all you need to do is keep your eyes open, and if you see a scholarship/contest that catches your fancy, APPLY (only good can come out of it (plus with some of the more obscure scholarships/contests your changes are good, really good)). Finally, please remember that your local librarians would be happy to help you out!
• Volunteer/Get a Job I am more than a little in love with the library, so whenever I have looked for a volunteer position or job, I have always looked at the library first. Even if you are not quite so enamored with the whole library thing, your job search can start here too. The new CLP website has a wonderful page on volunteer/job opportunities in the area. Your family, friends, and neighbors are also great resources so don’t be shy about asking around. Try to find something that you enjoy. Even if you know that chasing after 10 yr. olds or making friends with a copy machine is not your life’s calling, something about the work should make you smile.
• Plan Ahead If you are all set for the summer with a job, nights out on the town, pool side naps, etc., this might not be a bad time to start thinking about a job or volunteer position during your first year at college. This is by no means necessary: Plenty of people find jobs once they get to school or choose to focus on academics their freshman year. If you are interested or just bored, your college will probably have a career center of sorts so go ahead and take a look at your college’s website.
• Just have fun I know that sometimes there is a lot of pressure to do something that will look good on an application, but there is nothing wrong with doing something that is just for you. Afterall, what is the point of a jam packed resume if you are not happy and having fun? So…hang out with your friends, climb a tree, go shopping, go swimmming, bake something, what ever you want!

2. On Summer Reading (for school)

It might be long, it might not be your cup of tea, it might be completely and totally incomprehensible, but then again it might not be. Give it a shot. Even if you don’t like it, at least, it will give you something to talk about with your other friends who also have summer reading to do.

Side note: I personally believe that schools want their students to enjoy their summer reading so chances are that your summer reading won’t be bad at all.

3. On Summer Reading (for fun-includes #2)

Just do it. READ!!! It’s fun. It’s easy. And at the library, it’s free. If you are looking for a good read, here are some of my favorites: The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley (I know it’s a children’s book, but I still read it at least once a year. It’s that good.) , In the Woods by Tina French (hidden identities, mistaken identities, a all around great mystery and more), and A Civil Campaign by Lois McMaster Bujold (advertised as a comedy of biology and manners – it’s really funny. I promise.)

CLP also has a new teen website with many many book lists for you to pursue at your leisure. There are also links to fun activities, job/volunteer opportunities, and more. Check it out!

Happy Summer!