While stereotypes of summer are all about beach vacations and watermelon by the pool, in reality campus students have traveled, worked and lounged in many unique ways.
Traditional family trips are a part of the summer for many students. According to sophomore Allison Camden, nothing compares to the time spent with family on the beach.
“Every year my mom, brother and I spend a day on the coast for our birthdays,” Camden said. “This year we went to Santa Cruz for my mom’s birthday to ride roller coasters on the boardwalk and go surfing. I always enjoy the time we spend together because it’s a chance for us to get away from everything and just have fun.”
Although families often have divergent interests, Camden says the merging of these ideals makes for bonding experiences.
“My mom doesn’t like roller coasters at all, but we make her go on them with us,” Camden said. “She can get kind of sick sometimes but she never resists taking the chance. I will try my hardest to make time for my family each summer even when I graduate.”
For Korean senior Da Eun Sunwoo the opportunity to spend time with family only arises once a year.
“This last summer I spent five weeks in Seoul, South Korea with my parents and one younger sister,” Sunwoo said. “I have missed my family a lot after transferring here freshman year. [America] has become my home but I am always happy to see my family and my old friends again.”
With college applications due in a few months, Sunwoo also utilized her summer break to prepare.
“[During the summer], I worked with some English tutors and a group of exchange students, like myself, to prepare for the SAT in October,” Sunwoo said. “I also learned how to write better essays. That really helped me a lot and I had fun making new friends as well.”
In addition to vacations and school work, Sunwoo took time out to help a local hospital.
“I also volunteered as an intern at a local hospital just for the experience. I delivered charts to the patient’s rooms and also guided them to MRIs and things of that nature,” Sunwoo said. “I really enjoyed it but it made me certain that I would rather be a physical therapist [than a doctor].”
Like Sunwoo, freshman Kevin Thao spent most of his summer working.
“My family grows all kinds of vegetables such as tomatoes, beans, egg plants and onions all across the bay area. There are six kids in my family and we all pick the crop and help sell it at farmer’s markets,” Thao said. “I did that about two days a week. I think it’s cool that my entire family gets to work together and be a part of a business. It’s hard work, but I enjoy just being with family throughout the day.”
Thao says his hard work paid off when he got the chance to attend Redwood Christian Park for a week with his best friend.
“I went with my friend’s church to camp because I thought it would be a fun break and I wanted to come closer to God,” Thao said. “We had Bible studies everyday and I learned how God talks to us through nature. His creation is so beautiful that there’s no denying his existence. I loved being able to meet new people and not have to worry about homework or anything else.”
Although summer is a stimulating time for some students, others take the time to relax homework-free.
“Every day I woke up around 10:30 a.m. and just hung out at home,” senior Frank DeFrancesco said. “I usually watched TV for about an hour and then did chores. I don’t have my license yet so I couldn’t really go anywhere.”
Despite the sizable demographic of stay-at-home vacationers, many students took the opportunity to help others.
“This summer I went to Haiti with my church,” sophomore Cooper Belmont said. “I went with a group of adults and we worked at an orphanage and did sports camps with the kids. We worked hard to raise support for about four months. I really enjoyed the experience and I hope to go back there next summer.”
For more information about summer fun, check out Jam session.
