As the sweltering heat sets in, we all begin to wonder what summer has in store for us this year. Boys. Tans. Adventures. Indeed, when that final school bell rings, we all begin to imagine that picturesque summer a la High School Musical 2. Yet, it is easy to forget that summer is also a time for personal discovery and provides an opportunity to give back. Last summer, I used my copious amounts of free time to discover a passion that has sculpted my college and career goals, while simultaneously giving me an edge in admissions.
To be perfectly honest, my idea was born out of boredom while sitting poolside one day. A friend and I began discussing how designers and entrepreneurs got started in the marketing business and how, with the right idea, anyone could be successful. And that was when I realized we could do this. I mean, if the Snuggie can become a pop culture phenomenon, two teenage girls could certainly come up with something. After a brainstorming session, some discussion, and a little frustration, we finally decided to sell a tote bag. We figured that if we could get our friends and family to carry around the bag we designed, we could garner interest from the rest of our community as well. After some bickering over design, we chose to print the word initiative on one side with a design on the other so that we would be reminded of the importance of taking the first step whenever we used our bags. We took pre-orders for the first twenty totes to pay for shipping and production costs, and then we sold the others to friends, family, and members of the community to generate a profit. Once we sold all the bags, we decided to donate the money to a small charity stationed in Malawi which provides medical care for new mothers and infants rather than a large American-based non-profit because we felt that this way our donation would have the most direct impact.
After completing the project, I felt an immense satisfaction. My work that summer has benefitted me in ways that I never could have foreseen. My project made me realize that when I graduate from college, I want to go into international human rights work both because there are people in this world much less fortunate than I and because I have the power to make a difference. So when I apply to colleges in the fall, I will choose schools that have a strong study abroad program and emphasize global understanding as a part of the curriculum. In addition, I hope the colleges I apply to will see that I used my time away from school to explore personal interests and affect positive change in some small way.
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So, to those of you looking forward to another summer lounging by the pool, remember that summer is an opportunity to explore your passions and interests. Not only can your ideas transform your long-term goals and ambitions, but you also have the power to help someone else in the process. By taking the initiative, you lend yourself to a journey of remarkable self-discovery. So whether its learning how to belly dance, auditioning for a community play, or running a collection drive for the homeless, the summer is full of opportunities to explore a dormant dream, or perhaps one you never knew existed.