Making Your Summer Count: Building a Story, Not Just a List
February 2026
While graduation might feel like a lifetime away, your 9th and 10th-grade summers are the perfect time to start defining who you are outside the classroom. Many students think colleges want to see a "long" resume, but what they are actually looking for is a cohesive story.
Instead of trying to do a little bit of everything, use this summer to connect your interests, show real impact, and build a narrative that makes sense to a college admissions officer.
1. Connect the Dots: Your "Academic Narrative"
Think of your college application as a puzzle. Your transcript shows your academic ability, but your summer activities provide the "why."
If you excel in math and science, a summer spent volunteering at a local coding camp or shadowing a lab researcher connects your grades to a real-world passion. If you love English or History, writing for a local blog or archiving documents for a local museum shows that your interest in storytelling isn't just for a grade—it’s part of who you are.
Ask yourself: "Does my summer activity explain a trend on my transcript or explore a subject I’m curious about?" When your classes and your summer work align, you present a "complete story" that feels authentic.
2. Focus on "Impact" Over Hours
In the past, students focused on hitting a certain number of community service hours. Today, colleges care more about impact. They want to see how you changed a community for the better.
Impact doesn't have to mean starting a global non-profit. It means identifying a need in your school, church, or neighborhood and taking action.
- The School Impact: Organizing a summer equipment drive for your sports team.
- The Local Impact: Designing a social media strategy for a struggling local small business.
- The Religious/Cultural Impact: Revamping the youth curriculum or organizing a food pantry at your place of worship.
Pro-Tip: Quantify your impact. "I volunteered at a library" is fine. "I organized a summer reading program that served 40 local children" is an accomplishment.
3. Depth Over Breadth
You don’t need five different activities this summer. Doing one thing deeply is often more impressive than doing five things superficially.
If you love art, don't just take an art class; take the class, then organize a small gallery show at a local coffee shop or teach free lessons to younger kids. This shows initiative and leadership, two qualities that stand out on any resume.
How to Get Started This Week
- Audit Your Interests: Look at your favorite classes from this year. What is one way you can explore that subject outside of a textbook
- Identify a Need: Look at the organizations you are already a part of. What is one problem they have that you could help solve?
- Keep a Journal: Start a "Summer Log." Write down what you did, what you learned, and—most importantly—how it made you feel. These notes will be gold when you start writing your college essays in a few years!
By focusing on your personal "story" and the "impact" you leave behind, you aren't just filling time—you're building a future.
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