Making the Most of Summer Vacations: A Guide for Students and Parents

Summer vacation is more than just a break from school — it’s a powerful opportunity to build skills, explore interests, and lay the foundation for future academic and career success. Whether you're staying in India or heading abroad, here’s how to make the most of this valuable time.

1. Dive into Career-Related Reading

Books can inspire clarity and curiosity about various career paths. Encourage students to read real-life stories and practical guides that explore industries, innovation, and personal growth. Some recommended titles include:

• The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel – Offers timeless lessons on financial decision-making and behavioral economics

• How I Quit Google to Sell Samosas by Munaf Kapadia – A witty and relatable account of entrepreneurship rooted in Indian culture

• The Power of Imperfect Eating by Kara Bazzi – A unique perspective on food, body image, and mental wellness. It also offers valuable insight into how food technologists work — from understanding consumer behavior to developing healthier food products based on scientific principles

These books spark reflection, encourage informed career choices, and highlight how personal stories can shape professional paths.

2. Participate in Summer Camps

Modern summer camps offer much more than just fun — they build leadership, innovation, and domain-specific exposure. Some top options in India include:

• EDII Ahmedabad Summer Camp (Govt. Institute) – Focuses on entrepreneurship, startup thinking, and innovation

• Flame Summer Immersion Program – The flame summer immersion program offers all kinds of courses from Entrepreneurship to Data science and AI to Philosophy and Psychology.

• O.P. Jindal Global Law School Pre-Law Academy – Introduces students to legal reasoning, public policy, and global affairs

These camps give students hands-on exposure, a chance to network with mentors and peers, and experience subjects they may want to pursue in college.

3. Apply for Internships

Internships during school can be eye-opening. They help students understand professional environments, develop practical skills, and test their interests. Some platforms to explore:

• Internshala: Remote and in-person internships across domains

• GitHub (Student Developer Programs): Ideal for tech-savvy students to contribute to open-source projects, build portfolios, and engage with global developer communities

• Chegg Internships: Great for exploring internships in education, research, writing, tech, and tutoring-related roles

A short internship — even 2–4 weeks — can leave a lasting impression on a student’s growth and college applications.

4. Enroll in Certificate Courses

Summer is ideal for expanding your horizons beyond the school curriculum. Students can explore subjects ranging from artificial intelligence to economics, leadership, and psychology through top learning platforms:

• HubSpot Academy: Free courses in marketing, content creation, sales, and digital tools

• edX: Certifications from Harvard, MIT, and more

• FutureLearn: Great for humanities, business, and global issues

• Khan Academy: Free academic content, including SAT prep

• Coursera: University-level courses from leading institutions

• Nas Academy: Engaging, creator-led courses in storytelling, editing, branding, and more

• Recommended Certificate Courses:

• Gaming (Intro to Game development Intro to Game Development: Course | Codecademy) 

• UI/UX (UX Fundamentals User Experience (UX) Fundamentals | Udemy) 

• Design (Canva Design School Courses - Canva Design School) 

• Entrepreneurship (Entrepreneurship and Innovation Entrepreneurship and Innovation - City of Moreton Bay)

Completing a few targeted certificate courses can significantly boost a student’s confidence and profile.

5. Traveling Abroad? Maximize the Experience

If your family is heading abroad this summer, you can add an educational dimension to your trip:

• Visit University Campuses: Touring colleges in the region can help students imagine life on campus and shortlist institutions for future study.

• Explore the Culture Firsthand: Encourage students to observe the weather, food, transport, safety, and lifestyle of the country. This helps them adjust better if they eventually study there.

• Join an International Summer Program: Prestigious institutions like Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, and Stanford offer pre-college summer schools — excellent for academic immersion and exposure.

Final Thoughts

Summer is a golden opportunity for personal and academic growth. By balancing learning, reading, travel, internships, and interactive camps, students can develop clarity about their passions and direction.

Let’s ensure this summer is not just a vacation — but a step forward toward a confident, capable, and college-ready future.