Winter Break Tips

Winter break is fast approaching and while it’s tempting to use your time off to veg out and binge your favorites on Netflix there are a lot of things you can do with your break that will help you prepare for your next steps.

Volunteer
Get involved in your community through volunteering or community service projects. The holidays always seem to bring out our communities spirits and highlight areas of need. Volunteer at a soup kitchen, donate things to a charity or food shelter, or pick a family from a gift tree and provide gifts to those in need. Donating your time not only helps those in need, but can go on your activity resume as a service project. There are many scholarships that are based on service and involvement and your service to the community could help you earn cash for college.

Gather Advice
You are going to be around family and friends for days over break. Take the opportunity to ask questions of your relatives. What life experiences helped shape their careers and choices? Where did they go to school or how did they pick their career? Gathering advice and learning about experiences, both good and bad, can help you shape the way you plan your own future. Start a conversation and learn from those around you.

Read
Take some time and read a book or two. Reading is a life-long skill and increases your vocabulary and communication skills. Pick up a book for fun and spend some time reading. On the days spent with family take some time to read to younger family members. They’ll appreciate the attention and you’ll have some fun too.

Scholarships
If you’re a senior or current college student at least part of your break should be spent on scholarships. Every application you submit is a chance at reducing the cost of your education and covering expenses without incurring debt. Get organized before break and figure out which scholarships you want to work on. You’d be surprised what a day or two of dedication can accomplish.

Explore the Future
No matter your age you can spend some time exploring your future options. Use the Internet to explore college websites or learn about careers that interest you. Take the ACT Profile career inventory assessments (www.actprofile.org) and learn about career pathways that fit your interests, skill, and values. This activity is well worth your time and can give you an idea of things to fit into your spring schedule like job shadows, internships, and classes.

Take a Needed Rest
While you shouldn’t spend your whole break doing nothing, do make some plans for nothing once in a while. Everyone needs time to rest up and relax and winter break is just about perfect for that. It’s cold outside so grab a blanket, some holiday snacks or leftovers, and your favorite movie and spend an afternoon doing nothing. It will be everything you always thought it could be.



Brittania - ICAN Hiawatha Center