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Published on June 3, 2026
7 Ways to Make Your Summer Actually Count
7 Ways to Make Your Summer Actually Count
It’s June. You have roughly 10 weeks before school starts again. Here’s the uncomfortable truth: most students waste them- not because they’re lazy, but because they never decide what they want from summer in the first place. Whether you’re looking for productive summer activities, structured summer learning opportunities, or simply a way to return to school more confident and capable, these 7 strategies will change how you approach the next 10 weeks.
01
Build one real skill- not ten half-finished ones
Every summer, students download Duolingo, sign up for a coding course, buy a guitar, and abandon all three by July 15th. The problem isn’t motivation- it’s breadth. Pick one skill you genuinely want, commit to 30 minutes a day, and watch what happens in 60 days. Whether it’s Python, public speaking, graphic design, or a second language, one skill done properly is worth ten things half-started. Colleges and employers remember specifics, not “I tried stuff.”
Quick start: Write down 3 skills you’ve been curious about. Cross out 2. Spend the summer on the one that’s left.
02
Start a project that solves something real
The best thing about summer is that no one’s grading you- which means you can actually make things instead of just studying them. Pick a problem in your world and build something around it: a small app, a short film, a research paper on a topic you care about, a social media page for a cause, a handmade product you sell to friends and family. It doesn’t have to be big. It has to be yours. Projects show initiative in a way that grades simply can’t- and when interview or application season comes, “I built this” is one of the most powerful things a student can say.
Need a starting point?
Ask yourself: what’s something that annoys me, confuses me, or could be better in my school or neighbourhood? That irritation is usually a project idea in disguise.
03
Join a summer program that gives your summer actual structure
Self-discipline is hard to manufacture out of thin air – especially when every other signal in your environment says “relax.” That’s exactly why structured summer programs work so well for students who want to grow but struggle to stay consistent on their own. A good summer enrichment program gives you a schedule, peers who push you, and mentors who hold you accountable.
Research from the Harvard Graduate School of Education consistently shows that students in structured summer programs retain more learning, perform stronger academically in the following school year, and report higher confidence going into new grades.
Big Red Education runs some of the most hands-on student leadership programs available right now- here are three worth knowing about:
Social Startup Bootcamp: From Influence to Impact
A 5-day in-person student entrepreneurship program where students build and pitch a real social startup from scratch. Students develop:
- Entrepreneurship and leadership skills
- Ethical AI awareness
- Brand identity and communication
- Pitching and teamwork under real pressure
Mentored by a former Cornell University admissions officer, Maya Gobert who knows exactly what meaningful impact looks like on an application and in real life.
An immersive Model United Nations summer conference organised by University of Pennsylvania students designed to sharpen research, debate, diplomacy, and public speaking skills giving students a taste of high-stakes global problem-solving before they ever step into a university. Students develop:
- Diplomacy and negotiation abilities
- Public speaking and argumentation
- Research and analytical thinking
- Resilience under pressure
An intensive summer learning opportunity that introduces students to Generative AI through real hands-on projects mentored by Dr Blaine Fisher, a professor of information technology, emergency management & GIS at Tulane University. Students gain:
- AI literacy and prompt engineering skills
- Ethical technology awareness
- The ability to build real projects using tools that are reshaping every industry
- Original thinking, not just technical know-how
04
Read Beyond the Classroom to Build Knowledge and Critical Thinking
Not textbooks. Not revision guides. Pick up a non-fiction book about something you actually find fascinating, the psychology of decision-making, the history of the internet, how cities are built, how pandemics spread. Throw in a novel you’ve been meaning to read. Reading outside your curriculum does something school can’t easily replicate: it builds the kind of broad, connected knowledge that makes you interesting to talk to, sharper in arguments, and better at writing. Even 20 pages a day is 4-5 books by September.
Reading hack: Tell someone else what you read. Explaining a book out loud forces you to actually understand it, and it sticks far longer.
05
Build a physical routine before you need one
Summers without structure quietly destroy sleep schedules, eating habits, and energy levels- and then students arrive at September already running on empty. The fix is simple but non-negotiable: establish one physical habit and protect it. Run three times a week. Swim. Play a sport. Do yoga. It doesn’t have to be intense; it has to be consistent. A body that moves regularly sleeps better, thinks more clearly, and handles stress more effectively. Academic performance is not just a brain problem- it’s a whole-body problem.
06
Sit with boredom – Unstructured Time Actually Boosts Creativity
This one sounds counterintuitive. We live in an era of zero-tolerance for boredom, there’s always a scroll, a stream, a notification.But research from the American Psychological Association is clear: unstructured, screen-free time is where original thinking happens. The shower thoughts, the random ideas, the “what if I tried this” moments, they don’t come when your brain is constantly stimulated. Build at least a few hours a week with no agenda. Walk without podcasts. Sit without your phone. Let your mind wander. You might be surprised what it comes up with.
07
Write down what you want September to look like
Most students start the school year in reactive mode – responding to deadlines, assignments, and social pressures as they arrive. The ones who feel most in control? They spent some time before term deciding what they wanted. Not a rigid 5-year plan – just a clear sense of 2 or 3 things they want to do differently, achieve, or prioritize. According to research from Stanford’s Life Design Lab, students who set intentions before term are measurably more focused and less overwhelmed once the year gets busy.
Try this: Write “By the end of this school year, I want to have ___.” Fill it in three different ways. That’s your compass for the next 10 months.
A Note for Parents
Summer isn’t about filling every hour. The most impactful summers balance skill-building, exploration, and genuine rest. Encouraging students to pursue structured opportunities like a summer leadership program or entrepreneurship bootcamp alongside independent projects and downtime helps them return to school more confident, motivated, and ready to perform. The goal isn’t a packed schedule; it’s an intentional one.
Final Thoughts
The students who benefit most from summer aren’t necessarily the busiest they’re the most intentional. Whether you choose to develop a skill, launch a project, join a summer enrichment program, or simply read more widely, the goal is the same: start September with more confidence, knowledge, and direction than you had in June.
If you’re looking for a structured way to challenge yourself this summer, explore Big Red Education’s programs designed to help students build leadership, innovation, and real-world skills.
