Summertime can be the realization of every child’s hopes and dreams, because this is the time when we can ditch textbooks, tests, and homework, and do whatever we please, with no fear of academic penalty.
However, the summer is also an opportunity for motivated students - particularly those in high school - to find jobs and earn money or attend summer programs that may help them achieve a higher purpose, whatever that may be.
The options can seem endless, so this article is designed to understand the psychology and reasoning of how students choose their summer programs. Important questions to answer include: Do Summer choices have any impact on the future lives of a student? How can a student make the best choice of summer plans?
When discussing summer options, it is important to distinguish between three choices: is this option a college-type program devoted to secular learning, a Torah learning/Israel program that is religiously focused, or a job/internship? Students must ask themselves which option suits their needs best.
There is no official published TABC list of known summer programs, making the task of identifying the best program more difficult. TABC Director of College Guidance Garry Katz recommends that students reach out to the college guidance department early in the year to see how it may assist you.
At the heart of determining what kind of academic program to choose, Katz recommends that the student assess the program based on personal interest and the availability of kosher food and Shabbos accommodations.
Former TABC students have participated in a range of programs, from medical to leadership programs. Those programs that take place in academic settings are a great way to stand out on college applications as well as get a taste of post-high school life. That being said, such programs can be costly and difficult to locate.
In order to better determine what experience our student body has had with these programs, I recently administered a 6-question online survey. 50 current TABC students completed it.
The survey revealed that only 13% of those sampled demonstrated any knowledge about summer programs. Pre-college programs were the least popular choice, with only one respondent stating that he had participated in such a program (1.8%).
These results may reflect a fact Katz had highlighted: our school lacks an official list of these programs, so many students who might be interested in spending their summer this way may never find out about their options.
One popular, well-known option for TABC students is going on a trip to Israel. These trips can be an excellent way to experience the Holy Land with friends and to make new friends.
Students who explore this option may also gain life experiences that can’t be matched in the United States. Programs like NCSY Kollel, JOLT Israel, and Mach Hach allow for trips (or “Tiyulim”) throughout Israel, allowing for a one-of-a-kind experience of learning Torah with other Jews, without the stress of secular studies.
NCSY Kollel allows boys to spend 6 weeks learning in a yeshiva in Israel; this experience may introduce a student to what life in Israel post-high school might look like. NCSY Hatzalah allows high schoolers to pursue career paths in medicine while living in Israel - students train as Emergency Medical Responders (or EMR’s) and go on real calls while also touring the country on their downtime.
These are just a few of the many fine summer opportunities available to our students. But how should one go about choosing such a program?
TABC Mashgiach Ruchani Michael Hoenig says the summer is an “opportunity for growth, reflection, and introspection, to see areas of religious and spiritual growth and find environments most conducive to personal growth.”
Hoenig suggests that choosing a summer program requires much self-reflection and self-awareness. This is a powerful idea, given that many summer programs may be fun, but they may also be potentially detrimental to the religiosity of a particular student.
Students who may find themselves seeking a more religious program such as Morasha Kollel or NCSY Kollel may not feel as comfortable with programs like Mach Hach or JOLT, which are not as focused on Torah learning and religion, and are also co-ed.
When reflecting on which program may yield the most positive impact on a student, Hoenig said the choice has to be “very personal. Don’t just follow the pack and instead be sincere to determine the appropriate program.”
Senior Yoni Weinreich attended the Tikvah Institute at Yale University and described his experience as “amazing” because it allowed “for amazing discourse and conversation.” Weinreich added, “I was also able to take courses with amazing professors on topics from ‘Tyranny and the Tyrannical Soul in the Bible’ to ‘The Rule of Law in a Constitutional Democracy.’”
When asked about the impact that Tikvah had on him, Weinreich responded, “I think I found my place in Judaism through this discourse and was able to really develop both secularly and religiously.”
However, the aforementioned survey also revealed a surprisingly high number of students who did not follow Hoenig’s suggestion when choosing their summer plans.
Twelve of the 50 surveyed said that they were going on their respective programs solely based on the influence of family or friends. This statistic suggests that some students might benefit from taking more time to consider which programs are truly right for them.
One final option which many students at TABC will follow is taking a job as a summer camp counselor. Some may see this as the only neutral option, given that it requires neither academic nor religious introspection.
Being a camp counselor or just working in a camp can offer many benefits such as money, work experience and building one’s work ethic, as well as the freedom to pursue one’s personal summer interests in your free time. Sixteen of the 50 respondents say they choose to work in a camp based on either the promise of work experience or money, or because of their previous positive experiences as former campers.
Senior Menachem Kravetz spent his last summer as a counselor at Camp Morasha. When discussing his work experiences, Kravetz observed that the experience offered a great many benefits: “I worked at Morasha because I went there as a camper for 8 years. The benefits were tips from parents, relationships I was able to build with my campers and co-counselors, and the ability to grow as a person through taking on more responsibility.”
When asked what advice he would give to those wishing to work in summer camps, Kravetz said, “One has to be fully devoted, and has to be able to show their campers that they really care about them. To me, the goal of a counselor is to create relationships with the campers and be a positive role model for them. In order for one to do so, one has to show that they really care.”
In summary, summer presents a lot of opportunities for a high school student. It can be a time for introspection and reflection, for fun and frolic, or for work that can boost a college resume. Whatever path you choose, you should reach your decision with complete self-honesty and interest in self-development. Don’t end up with a potentially poor experience because you made uneducated choices.
I challenge everyone who hasn’t yet decided his summer plans to pause. Be completely honest with yourself. Know exactly what you want, why you want it, and what it means to you. With those three things in mind, you stand a better chance of having a summer of growth and friendship, as well as a little fun.