For any high school student, a summer program is beneficial. There’s thousands across the country taking place at different colleges every year. Whether someone flies far from home or goes locally, there’s something for everyone. 

Interested can choose any area of study or go to a basic core curriculum based program. Summer programs act as a summer camp that can go on for one, two, three, or even five weeks. Some cost money while others don’t. Some are for college credit while others add flair to your college resume. It’s a great experience for all, especially for rising juniors and seniors who want a taste of college life. 

Not only does it look good on a resume, but summer programs also give a wide array of learning lessons. There are so many people involved from talented students to wise faculty. There’s a lot to take away from these classes that give lifelong knowledge useful for the future. 

This summer, I attended a summer program at Emerson College in Boston for journalism. It opened my mind and helped me become an even more outgoing person. I made friends from all over the country and even the world. It’s a challenging learning experience that I was willing to do. I even won an award for best article at the program. I collaborated with my peers and had prestigious journalism professors. 

Personally, I grew as a person at my summer program. It was only just recently that I’ve become more personable and going to Boston was a big part of that. If I could, I would do it all over again. I went for three weeks and I believe it was the perfect amount of time. Shorter wouldn’t have fulfill my needs but longer would’ve taken up my whole summer. My writing skills have greatly improved I believe and I even expanded beyond my horizons. I interviewed random people on the street and made video packages I can add to any portfolio. I never knew how well of an editor I can be before this. 

No matter what the program is, there’s something to peak anyone’s interest. The benefits range from many skills like communication and time management. It’s a real insight for how college runs in the real world. Living on campus and being away from home allows one to mature and learn how to be responsible for themselves.