Isabella Kennedy

    The last school bell will ring on June 18th, and summer vacation will officially begin. But for many high schoolers, summer looks vastly different from the pool days and family trips that filled their elementary school years. Now, many MRHS students will be experiencing summer by building their resume: watching clouds pass from inside an ice cream shop, classroom, or lab. Many students are using the summer as an opportunity to attend programs or learn through internships, or make some money through a job. 

    Students started making summer plans as early as January. Internship applications began to open up, and the stressful rush to complete them started. An accurate description of many would be less-expensive college applications. Others turned to summer school, trying to get ahead for the next school year, or catch up on a class they missed. Many take P.E or Health over the summer, as those classes are commonly traded for courses like AP Comp Sci during the school year.

“I’m doing P.E because I need the credit, and I don’t have room for it junior year,” sophomore Joy Newberger shared. 

    Jobs are another way students are filling their summer, earning work experiences and more importantly, money. Students with licences are more likely to obtain a job, using their newfound traveling freedom to stand behind a counter for several hours a day. However, many are excited to accept the responsibility and benefits working has to offer, though jobs can then cause stress when families plan vacations in the summer, as schedules and shifts may not line up.

    With the school year taken up by heavy classes and tests, many often use the summer as the time to pad their resume, when they don’t have to worry about finishing their English homework while manning a drive-thru window. While many choose jobs, others look for internships or study opportunities that align with their college goals or career interests, in the hopes of distancing themselves from the competition. 

“I’ve applied to three tech jobs. . . My goal is to get more experience so I can get better positions in the future,” sophomore Saanvi Singh said. 

    Finding summer activities is especially important for those who already know what they want to do, as they can spend time studying it and moving forward with their goals. 

“I got a finance internship to gain experience because it’s what I want to major in,” sophomore Saranya Ganti commented. 

    Even with their new responsibilities and activities, summer 2026 is shaping up to be both a fun and instructive one, where students can gain valuable experiences and spend time enjoying the nice weather between jobs or school.