April and May have flown by as students cram for tests and presentations all while looking forward to one thing: summer break. Summer is a time when students can do anything they want, whether it’s spending time with friends, family, or even alone. The possibilities are endless, from relaxing at the beach to traveling to new places or even learning something new. However, students often have to balance fun with preparing for their futures, including college applications and SATs.
Junior Chase Nakamura is in this situation, needing to balance his upcoming trip to Japan with studying for the SAT and preparing for his college applications.
“My main plans consist of going to Japan for the Japan Wizards trip, studying for the SAT, and getting ready for college application,” said Nakamura.
The Japan Wizards trip, organized by the Japan-America Society of Hawaii, is part of an academic competition where students study Japanese culture and can earn the opportunity to travel to Japan. This trip is also something that looks good on a college resume helping with Nakamura’s future.
“I'm going out to Arizona for a camp, [and] we're gonna do some lab work,” junior Eryn Kameda said.
At this camp, they do hands-on science, robotics, and coding, which also would look good if Kameda wanted to apply for a science related school in the future.
For junior Domonique Horvath, her summer goals go beyond what most students might expect.
“I'm going on a big trip [for] about a month and a half [and] I'm going to a flight academy [where] I'll be flying planes for 2 weeks straight so I can [hopefully] get my solo flight,” said Horvath.
In addition to getting her solo flight so she can fly alone, Horvath is thinking about applying to Embry-Riddle for aviation.
On the other hand, freshman Elise Okubo is more focused on the relaxing aspect of summer.
“This summer break, my main plans are surfing, going to the beach, and flying to New York for a week or two,” Okubo said.
Her plans reflect what most students consider an ideal summer: relaxing by the beach, spending time with friends and just taking a break from school. For many, summer is a chance to relax and enjoy life's moments, whether that means traveling, trying new things, or just sunbathing. However, Okubo also sees summer as an opportunity to be creative and capture those moments.
“I’m gonna film my entire summer and try to make it look better than it actually is,” said Okubo, “[Every] Fourth of July, I spend it in New York, and I watch the fireworks with my friends.”
She wants to film her summer and turn it into something she can look back on. In addition to her everyday summer plans, she also looks forward to special traditions with friends and family.
Summer means something different to every student, whether that means traveling, working toward future goals, or simply relaxing. While some students are focused on preparing for college or pursuing goals, others are making the most of their time by creating memories with their friends and family.
For many, it’s those small traditions that make summer the best. After all, summer isn’t just about what you do, it’s about the memories you take with you.
As Horvath said, “you can’t have a summer without hanging out with your friends at least once.”
