Summer is right around the corner, and this is the time when many students (like myself) find themselves with plenty of free time but are unsure of what exactly to do with this free time. Well, there are several things that you can do not just to make the summer go by faster, but to also stay productive and prepared for the next school year! Here are some things that you can do over the summer to prepare for the next school year!

1. Study Next Year's Subjects!

If you know what classes you're studying next year, why not get a bit of a head start on them? Sites like Khan Academy and IXL have great tools that can help you get familiar with the material that you will be learning next year! While you don't have to learn all of the content, just looking over the main points or even just the first one or two units can help you build a strong foundation for the next school year! I think that this can help you feel less overwhelemed during the first few weeks of school as you'll be familiar with whatever new concepts you're learning!

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2. Tutor!

Feel like you're good at a certain subject? Tutor another student! This can not only help the other students prepare for the next school year, but it can also help you boost your extracurriculars and your resume while giving back to your community!

It can also help you brush up a bit on concepts you're good at and haven't revisited in a while! You could tutor via websites such as Learn To Be, or you could reach out to other students in your area and ask if they need help with tutoring! I think that this is also a great way to build confidence and communication-related skills!

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3. Take The SAT or ACT

Study for the SAT or ACT and sign up to take it as well! Taking the SAT or ACT over the summer can help you see what concepts you're good at and which ones you need to revise more. If you're satisfied with your score, then you don't need to take it again next school year (which can make things much less stressful), or if you want to retake it, then the score you get over the summer helps give you a baseline for what you need to study before retaking it. I wish I had done more studying for the SAT over the summer because then I wouldn't been as stressed when it came time for me to take it!

4. Get A Summer Job

Getting a summer job is a great way to pass the time and make money that can help you buy stuff for the next school year, such as textbooks, and school supplies, or even help you save up towards exam fees! Check local ads to see what job positions are open in your area! Make sure to make a good resume and to start the search as early as you can! I personally think that this is also a great way to hang out with friends while making a bit of extra cash on the side!

5. Start A Blog!

Starting a blog can be helpful in so many ways! It can help you learn more about a certain subject that you're interested in (and researching for an educational blog on a school subject can help you be more prepared for that subject in the next school year), work on and improve your writing skills, boost your resume, have another extracurricular, and is just a fun way to destress, relax, and learn something new about a topic that you're interested in! Some topics that your blog could focus on are chemistry, cooking, baking, reviewing food, reviewing entertainment (like movies and music), math, or even just your daily life!

Your blog could even tackle multiple topics, or just be random things that you find interesting (such as cool songs that you randomly find)! The possibilities are endless!

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Your blog could be on a platform like Instagram (with the blogs posted as posts, stories, and/or reels), Medium, or even a website that you create! I personally wnat to start a blog related to my writing journey and experience, as I think it would be a fun way to share my experiences while also potentially helping out aspiring writers!

6. Relax And Have Fun!

Okay, so I know that everything I've said up to now involved doing some sort of work, but while preparing for the next school year academically, it's also good to prepare mentally. Balance out your activities and leave time for yourself to do some fun things. The school year's always stressful with projects, exams, activities, clubs, and so much more, so you must give yourself some rest. This can help you relax and not feel stressed before the school year even begins.

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Some fun things you could do to help you de-stress and relax before the next school year include:

• Go on a trip somewhere you've always wanted to visit
• Visit some shops or restaurants
• Go to a movie
• Go to a waterpark
• Go to the beach
• Go on a hike
• Start a vlog for your summer
• Make some crafts
• Make some jewelry, like bracelets or necklaces!

I personally love going on vacations and making crafts because they help me forget about all of my worries, but you can do any activity that you want! You can do these fun activities by yourself, or with friends and family! While it is important to stay productive during the summer and prepare for the next school year, it's extremely important that you don't burn yourself out, especially before the next school year starts!

Make sure to take some time for yourself! You could even make a schedule that balanced out your academic and extracurricular activities, like summer camps, research, or jobs, with the things that you want to do to help yourself relax!

Conclusion

And that's it for this article! Thank you so much for reading, and I hope that you've found something fun to do over the summer! Make sure to balance out your activities with time for relaxation, and let us know what you plan on doing this summer in the comments section! Have a great summer!

Note: All of the sources and sites mentioned aren't endorsed by me or The Teen Magazine. They are just sites I thought would be helpful based on what I've heard and know about them. Make sure to do your research first before participating in anything!