What are you doing this summer?

COLUMNIST HARNOOR GILL 

SUMMER is a time of relaxing: sitting on the couch, watching TV, playing outside or hanging out with friends. All in all, it’s a great time of the year where you get to enjoy the summer weather and relax. Let’s change the attitude of summer by promoting things that are enjoyable yet beneficial for you at the same time. Activities that you can be a part of during summer are cleaning the park while enjoying sights or participating in community events while earning community hours.

I can understand that the summer is about sleeping in, hanging out with friends and enjoying yourself while worrying about nothing. However, why not go out of your way and assist in the community, which keeps the bonds of a community strong as well. As a teenager myself, I understand that having fun is an integral part of a summer break but it’s a decent act to do when you go out of your way and volunteer for the community.

Others always recognize small acts of kindness around you whether or not you get an award for them. I’m not trying to say that you should put a full stop to having fun, but what I’m trying to say is that you should take time out of your relaxed days to just give back to the community.

Some great ways of giving back to the community are to host a barbecue to fundraise for a local event. You’re not only having fun in the process of being a part of it but you are also learning how to organize a community event on your own. There are other ways you can spend your summer break in the community such as vlunteering at camps and town sites. Volunteering not only gives you the credit for being a part of the community as well as your hours for high school but it also gives you a sense of honor of helping the community in a unique way.

My goal that I have set for teenagers far and wide is to get off those couches and start to explore your surroundings. It may be tough but once high school is over, it’s university and off to the real world. The goal is for you to explore where you want to go in life and to explore more about it by simply volunteering. If you want to be a doctor, for example, go ahead and volunteer at the hospital. Or if you want to be a vet, you should go volunteer at an animal shelter.

Let’s raise awareness on the issue of making your summer break useful this year through various social media outlets. Please reach out to people through facebook, twitter, instagram, photobucket, blackberry messenger and myspace.

Have a blast in summer – while volunteering at the same time!

 

BY HARNOOR GILL

Grade 10 student

Christ The King Catholic Secondary

Georgetown, Ontario