Bugs, bikes, popcorn, books, music, ice cream, and more are just some of the ways students got involved.
Don’t let the year “2021” make you think this isn’t a very current topic. It is 🙂
In 2021, I shared my students’ frustration about how the pandemic was really influencing what they could do with activities. Beyond the fact that activities look great on college apps, guess what? Activities are FUN! Getting involved, giving back, creating change, enjoying time with peers, etc., it’s a great part of LIFE!
During the pandemic, I frequently heard, “Well, you know, the pandemic…,” followed by frustrations about how challenging it was to do stuff. At the same time, I was meeting students who were doing amazing things! Using technology in innovative ways to engage kids and adults; masking up and doing community service; making sandwiches to battle food insecurity; supporting frontline workers; Zooming with seniors to add a “hug” to loneliness; and so much more. I’m a big believer in safety first, so I would NEVER tell a teenager to get in harm’s way for any reason. I decided to reach out to students, asking if anyone was willing to share their stories of how they got involved, how they achieved what I called “Pandemic Pivots.”
What resulted was a panel of incredible stories of resilience and creativity. The pandemic (thankfully) is over, but the idea of finding a way to make things happen? Timeless! I hope these stories will inspire you to think…what could I do?
For the Class of 2024, activities are an important part of your college application. They tell the story of you OVER TIME. Join me in June for one of my last classes this season, “Reporting Activities on your College Application” – sign up here.
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