Summer isn’t just a time for relaxation. It’s a time to pursue your interests, prepare for college, and explore the world.

Molly Branch, Windward’s Dean of College Counseling, explained that summer gives students a unique opportunity to engage in activities they might not have time for during the school year, and to demonstrate their commitment to learning and personal growth.

“It is important that colleges see kids who are engaged and active with their communities and who are not simply waiting for directions but are proactive,” Branch said.

Whether they were performing, taking courses, or traveling abroad, Windwardians were certainly up to the task. If you’re looking for some inspiration for your upcoming summer, Windward’s students are here to provide you with some ideas.

Perform on a Different Stage

Oliva S. (‘26) performed with her a cappella group, Squad Harmonix, thousands of miles away in Scotland at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the largest performing arts festival in the world.

In 2024, its organizers revealed that they hosted over 3,000 shows, with the city “covered in posters and billboards for shows,” according to Stodel. She noted that the Fringe Festival “is a big deal all around Europe,” and her music teacher, who grew up in the UK and had long wanted the group to perform there. “Our a capella group went with a company called Los Angeles Theater Initiative and they helped us to be able to get a venue and perform,” Olivia explained.

The experience was vastly different from any of Olivia’s prior performances.

“As a group we have never done shows like these where you have to perform for the public for multiple days in a row,” she stated. She also mentioned the excitement of being able to explore the city with friends and connect with other performers over the four days they put on shows “right in the center of the city on the Royal Mile, which is the Main Street of the city.”

“We all gained such valuable experience about what it means to be an artist or performer and the kind of energy and stamina you need to be able to succeed,” said Olivia, reflecting on her experience, which she considered unforgettable.

Travel to a Foreign Land

Charlie M. (‘25) had a somewhat different break experience, choosing to travel to Japan.

Having studied abroad prior to this, she felt prepared to take a solo trip to the country. She mentioned that “it was a little scary to not have someone to fall back on if I needed help.”

Yet another challenge was learning how to effectively communicate in spite of the language barrier (Charlie speaks Japanese, but is not fluent). Though traversing a foreign country was daunting, she said it taught her to rely on herself and adapt to unexpected situations. Charlie was entirely accountable for herself and what she did, which ended up leading to “the most amazing time and experience that couldn’t have been replicated if I had been with other people.”

Charlie was especially eager to practice her Japanese, trying to use “as little English as possible,” often receiving reinforcement from native speakers that helped build up her confidence.

Having returned from her trip, she encourages others to take the same risk she did. “It is a great learning experience and can be challenging, but it is so much fun exploring a new place and seeing whatever calls to you,” Charlie said.

“Be yourselves, don’t be afraid to take a risk, and remember it’s not the quantity of things you do, but the quality and duration.”—Molly Branch, Windward Dean of College Counseling

Engage Yourself Intellectually

Other students, like Talia Z. (‘25), participated in summer programs related to their academic interests.

Talia, who was involved in the National Student Leadership Conference in Biotechnology hosted at UC Berkeley, described the nine-day program as a forum for “leadership seminars where we learned about conflict resolution, leadership styles, [and] how to motivate our teammates.”

There was plenty of opportunity for participation in labs and projects as well through the creation of “a biotechnology product which we researched, designed, and eventually pitched to the leaders of the conference at the culmination of the program.”

Talia’s participation in the program was largely due to her interest in biotechnology, making the NSLC “a really good way to see if biotech is something that I really want to pursue in the future and to grow my leadership skills.” Beyond leadership and biotech, the program also immersed students in college life by giving them the chance to live in dorms, eat at dining halls, and take care of themselves.

Similarly, Ellie S. (‘26) participated in a pre-college program at Columbia University, which allows high school students to get a taste of college life by living on campus and taking college courses over the span of a few weeks. Ellie, who took a psychology course, said that the program was structured to allow students a balance between class and free time.

“We had a morning class session and an afternoon class session,” she said. “After class, we had free time where we could hangout with friends, explore, go on an excursion, or do our homework!” Ellie discussed her excitement related to studying a subject she was “interested in pursuing as a major and a possible career,” making it feel particularly impactful.

But outside of the academic sphere, she was able to meet individuals from across the world and “loved getting to see different places in NYC.”

Overall, Ellie described the program as well worth it, providing her with “an abundance of life skills” that she can use moving forward.

Pick Something You’re Passionate About Doing

Dean Branch emphasized the significance of participation in activities that students truly enjoy.

“Colleges don’t dictate a set of activities that will earn students acceptance,” she said. “Instead, they want students to do what they love, to discover something about themselves and to find joy.” which presents itself in endless ways, ranging from volunteering to travel to internships or summer classes.

However, for those attempting to figure out where to start, Branch recommended that they “check out the Windward Network, or ask others with similar interests what they have done.”

While summer activities alone won’t be the determining factor of an application, “they reveal student interests and involvements outside the classroom,” which may be seen during the school year or over the break, she said.

Venturing away from home through participation in a pre-college program “can attest to a student’s independence and willingness to try new things and meet new people.”

However, Branch also spoke on the pros and cons of some of the activities students typically involve themselves in. While she noted that simply being and feeling productive is an upside, “many kids do the exact programs that their friends do, which means not every experience is unique.”

Yet an even larger issue is the fact that many students engage in these opportunities solely to make themselves look better on college applications rather than as a result of genuine interest, which is exactly why Branch stressed that students of all ages do what makes them happy now, allowing for the discovery of the things that fulfill them.

To everyone, she advised, “Be yourselves, don’t be afraid to take a risk, and remember it’s not the quantity of things you do, but the quality and duration.”