Opportunities for High School Students
Many high school students are trying to prepare for college by doing various things which build up their resume. High school is a pivotal period in a student's life, where they embark on a journey of self-discovery and academic growth. It is also a time when they can lay the foundation for their future endeavors. In today's dynamic world, high school students have a variety of opportunities at their fingertips. In this blog, we will explore some of the exciting opportunities available to high school students and how they can make the most of them.
Why Should High School Students Do Extracurricular Activities?
FIND YOUR INTERESTS
At the start of high school many students have no idea of what they would like to do, their interests, or even their future career path. Pursuing activities in or outside of school can help students find their interests and may help them choose a career path. Clubs, Fundraisers, and Jobs are good ways to find what students like.
COLLEGE RESUME
Not only can high school students find new interests through extracurricular activities but it can help with applications to college. Jobs, internships, clubs, sports, etc. really help the admissions office know who you are making you more personable. By adding this to an application it can demonstrate your interests and hobbies which can make one’s application stronger to the selection committee.
At Inspirit AI, our high school students have had tremendous success showcasing an AI project on their college application. AI Scholars is a live online program that exposes high school students to fundamental AI programming skills in Python and guides them to build a socially impactful project. You can learn more here.
INTERNSHIPS
There are a variety of internships for high school students. Some start during the summer and some are during the school year. Many schools even have the option for an early release which can help students with time management. Though not every student wants to do that here are some summer internships for high school students:
Inspirit AI - This organization has many opportunities for internships during the summer and even includes projects high school students can participate in!
NASA - Even NASA offers internships for high school students. Here is the chance to find the perfect internship for you! https://intern.nasa.gov/
Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program - Find more information here https://hutton.fisheries.org/
Look for local internships too! This can help you connect with your community. A simple “Internships around me” search into Google can go a long way.
VOLUNTEERING
Volunteering is a big part of high school. Some schools even require their students to have hours to graduate. This is a good opportunity for high school students because it shows that they want to give back to their community and really love helping others. There are numerous volunteer opportunities available, such as working at local charities, participating in community clean-up initiatives, tutoring younger students, or assisting at hospitals or nursing homes. A good way to volunteer is by finding one or two organizations that really speak to you and consistently volunteer there for your 4 years of high school. Even if you start late, still incorporate consistency since that resonates well with colleges.
SCHOOL CLUBS
Extracurricular activities can be very fun and informative. Look at the clubs that are offered in your school and join them. If there aren’t any clubs that really interest you then make you own and start a club. Some idea for clubs include:
Girl Up Club - Empower women in your school and bring awareness to women's rights.
Engineering Club - Learn about different types of engineering and do fun challenges that will engage club members. This can include an egg drop or even the tallest marshmallow tower.
Robotics Club - Join VEX or GEMi competitions and compete with other schools
Reading Club - Spend time and talk about the book of the week!
There are many more opportunities and ideas for clubs students can start. This will show leadership and can spark students' interests in different clubs.
COMPETITIONS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
High school students can participate in academic competitions, science fairs, debate tournaments, art exhibitions, and more. These events not only foster healthy competition but also provide opportunities to showcase talent, gain recognition, and potentially win scholarships or other forms of recognition that can support future education endeavors.
SPORTS
Another opportunity a student can involve themselves in are sports. Even if you aren’t too good at a specific sport you can always try different ones and even make a club for it. A good sport to try this out on is Badminton. Many schools don’t have official teams for Badminton and this can be a good way to stay active and also have fun with your school.
JOBS
Finding a job is a huge thing for high school students. This job doesn’t have to be too crazy either; it can be working at a grocery store, fast food, or even retail. This teaches students responsibility and time management which is essential for college. Another plus is it pays unlike some internships. Part-time jobs offer a variety of benefits, such as financial independence, skill development, and a chance to gain real-world experience. Working while in high school can be a rewarding experience that prepares students for their future endeavors.
DUAL ENROLLMENT/AP CLASSES
Some high schools have dual enrollment programs or AP classes that allow students to take college-level courses while still in high school. This provides students with a head start on their college education, the opportunity to earn college credits, and a taste of the academic challenges they may encounter in higher education.
Do What Interests You
Many students participate in activities during the summer or in school to make them look better for colleges but this should not be your priority. Yes, most high schoolers stress about how to make themselves look better to colleges but what colleges are looking for is authenticity. What do you actually like doing? Why did you choose to join this club? What made you pick this internship? It is much harder to do things that you aren’t as passionate about so instead do the things you like and what interest you. Finding what is right for you can be a difficult task but these opportunities can steer you in the right direction to college and beyond.
About Inspirit AI
AI Scholars Live Online is a 10 session (25-hour) program that exposes high school students to fundamental AI concepts and guides them to build a socially impactful project. Taught by our team of graduate students from Stanford, MIT, and more, students receive a personalized learning experience in small groups with a student-teacher ratio of 5:1.
