College Summer Programs Prepare Teens for Stressful Environments
Summer is traditionally a time for rest, relaxation, and recreation for many, but for high school seniors, it’s a frantic time of preparation. There are new social experiences and increased amounts of homework to consider, possible careers and personal independence to look forward to, and focus on future goals and aspirations.
The transition from high school graduate to college freshman is typically brief. It lasts all of one summer and high school students feel no better equipped to handle the challenges of college life than they did at high school graduation. They are stepping apprehensively into unknown territory with little to no college preparation.
Studying is a prime example of this. Many students accustomed to smaller, informal classroom settings can become overwhelmed with large, impersonal lecture-style classrooms. Suddenly, asking questions in front of an audience of hundreds can be intimidating, and requesting that a professor slow down for note-taking purposes is unlikely. Often students go through trial by fire, making critical errors that can have a lasting effect on their grade point averages.
College summer programs specialize in giving high school students and even new college students a taste of what the high-stress environment can be like. Through “real-life” scenarios and activities designed to help them manage their time, college freshman can use the knowledge to find the path to college success. They will learn how to juggle challenging classes, increased amounts of homework, and studying with new social situations, academic career choices, and financial responsibilities.
One college success program helps students with all of this and more. The 8 Keys of Excellence, developed by SuperCamp co-founder Bobbi DePorter, provides a strong foundation for students grappling with accumulating responsibilities and less personal time. The message this academic summer camp provides is simple: Success in all aspects of life depends on you. The following principles are included in the 8 Keys: Integrity, Failure Leads To Success, Speak With Good Purpose, This Is It!, Commitment, Ownership, Flexibility, and Balance. These principles will keep a floundering student grounded, and reinforce an aspiring student’s drive to succeed.
Another concept this college summer program stands by is Everything Speaks. No matter what a student is doing, the environment they surround themselves in has an inverse affect on their mood, attitude, and the results of what they are trying to accomplish. Consider studying on an organized, orderly desk versus studying on a chaotic mass of papers and books. The results could be wildly different!
College preparation can give students invaluable learning and life skills to help them succeed in college, professional, and personal lives. Megan Adams, graduate of one college success program had this to say about her experiences: “[It] was the most life changing experience of my life thus far and I have recommended it to all my friends and all my mom’s friends for their kids. I don’t really know that you can completely put into word the amazingness of it… the whole program should be a requirement at some point in all kids’ lives.” Every student should have the same opportunity to get a head start on college success.