Picture this: It’s the last day of school, and you’re looking forward to the summer that awaits you. Imagine it, the pure joy of doing nothing. Then, of course, you remember the many programs you signed up for because in December, it seemed like a good idea to be “proactive about the future.”
Now, with summer homework in nearly every class looming over your head like clouds hanging over Santa Monica in June, you realize this summer will likely best be described as “work now, play later.”
Except this leaves me wondering when the “play,” true relaxation without the constant reminder of unfinished work, will actually begin?
The pressure on high school students at an institution like Marlborough to prepare for the future is real and not entirely unreasonable, but the multitude of self-help articles and social media content offering “productive summer tips” leaves little hope for a relaxing July.
In a 2023 blog post for Harvard Summer School, Mary Sharp Emerson, a digital content producer for Harvard’s Division of Continuing Education, offered insight into some of the motivations behind applying to summer programs. Because Harvard University sits among the top schools in the United States, it is unsurprising that its advice is followed by Marlborough students as
well.
“Those months off are an excellent time to build a college application that really stands out from the competition,” Emerson said.
The aforementioned “competition” is what can prove to be most destructive about valuing prestige in programs above all else. When friends are secretive about what programs they’re applying to and fear someone might take their spot, the prospect of applying and
later attending one such program feels a little less enticing.
Rory ’27 believes that putting too much energy toward furthering one’s academic career can ultimately lead to more stress, despite summer being a time meant for rest.
“I think a big part of why summer is becoming less fun is the increasing pressure to maximize the productivity
of every day,” she said. I feel guilty for spending time with my friends or taking time to recover from the school year, which means that even fun activities can become stressful.”
As someone who has just entered junior year, I can attest to the fact that high school is exhausting. No matter how much I enjoy my classes, I still long for a full 12 hours of sleep on a random Wednesday. This is all to say that it’s important to spend the summer doing what you truly enjoy, so that you don’t reflect on these months and remember them only as a few lines on a college application.
