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"Stay well, be present, and enjoy the journey"
Connect with Sonia Cacique
LinkedIn
Instagram
JOIN OUR CAREER NEWSLETTER here.
🚀 I'll help you rediscover who you truly are, provide clarity towards your future and be your personalized coach with Multiple Service Package options. Your Coach Sonia is ready to help you!
"Stay well, be present, and enjoy the journey"
Do you want to help your teen discover more of themselves this summer? Are they dreaming of conducting groundbreaking research, making a difference in your community, or exploring their creative talents? Well, if so, there's a summer program out there waiting for them. With so many options available, finding where to start can be overwhelming. Today, I will go step by step, on how to guide your teen to their next meaningful summer experience.
Speaker 1:Welcome to College and Career Ready the podcast that helps motivate and inspire your growing teen to be college and career ready. I'm your coach, sonia, founder of Discover you, and I will be your host and guide on this exciting journey to with a bright future. Our mission is simple to empower our parents and students by elevating their confidence and resourcefulness. We believe that you deserve all the tools and support necessary to open the doors to endless possibilities of success and, with our community, you don't have to do this alone. So come with me and let's get started. I hope, wherever you are, you are doing well. My sweet friend, are you joining us with a cup of coffee, hot tea, or are you running back and forth taking your kids from school on to the next activity? Or are you enjoying a quiet, relaxing walk while you listen to our episode. Well, wherever you're listening to us from, welcome.
Speaker 1:In today's episode, we will be discussing, step by step, how you can help your teen find summer programs and meaningful summer experiences. Whether they're in high school looking to enhance their college application or a college student seeking valuable skills and experiences, this episode will give you practical, step by step actions to take with them. So, without further ado, let's get right into it. Summer break offers just a unique opportunity for students to explore their interests, develop new skills and gain valuable experiences outside of the classroom. But navigating the sea of summer programs can be daunting and overwhelming, so let's break it down step by step.
Speaker 1:The first step is to identify their interests and goals. Now, this is crucial in the process, which is why, when I work with students one-on-one, I make sure to help them identify these core principles through some self-reflection. But remember, in order to have communication with your teen, you need to connect with them first. You might want to check out episode 65 and 66 for some great tips on how to connect with your growing teen, because without open communication, my friend, it will be challenging trying to help identify your teen's true interests, values and goals. So make sure you check out those two episodes that are filled with valuable tips for you. Once you have taken some time to reflect together on their interests, their passions and goals, then you'll be able to narrow their choices and options. Maybe they're interested in STEM, the arts, community service or leadership development. Whatever their interest is, understanding what they hope to gain from a summer program will help narrow down the options and ensure a more fulfilling experience.
Speaker 1:Now the second step is to have a clear idea of their interests and goals. Now, once they have a clear idea of their interests and goals, then it is time to start researching summer programs that align with who they are. Now there's a couple of things you can do for this. You can utilize online resources such as websites, forums and even social media groups are very helpful for this, to explore different opportunities for summer programs, such as talent-based summer programs, subject-specific research or competitive programs. It is important to consider factors like location, how long it's going to last, your availability, cost and the structure of the program when you're evaluating their options. I'll tell you one of my favorite places to find summer programs and internships is LinkedIn. I actually did an episode specifically on LinkedIn at the beginning of the year. You can check the link on the show notes and if you create a LinkedIn account, or your teenager does, make sure to connect with me. You can find me as Sonia Casique. That's S-O-N-I-A last name, c-a-c-i-q-u-e. Okay, so there's a couple of places that you can research, as I mentioned, and just using Google and searching for the key areas of summer programs that you're looking for.
Speaker 1:Once you have found a couple of programs, the third step is to help your team connect with others and ask questions. Don't hesitate in helping your team reach out to program organizers or alumni to ask questions and gather more information. Inquiring about the application process, program curriculum, housing arrangements and even available scholarships can help them make a more informed decision. Also, check out your local colleges and universities for pre-college experiences or for an out-of-town experience. You can check out other universities for summer programs. Some even offer scholarship opportunities. So make sure to ask. Remember, the more you learn together, the better equipped your team will be to finding the perfect summer program.
Speaker 1:Now, once you've narrowed it down and you know the programs that your team wants to apply to, then you move on to step four Prepare a standout application. It's not going to be enough just finding the programs of interest. You have to stand out. Once you've found a few programs that have picked your interests, start working on your applications. Take the time to tailor your resume, write compelling essays, gather any required materials, such as letter recommendations and transcripts. And speaking of letter recommendations, please urge your teenager not to wait until the last minute to ask their teachers or counselors for letters of recommendations. They are swamped and overloaded with requests, so the earlier you ask, the better chances that they will write a compelling letter of recommendation. And do not hesitate in helping your counselor or teacher write the letter of recommendation by giving them a couple of details about the programs that you are interested in and the things that you have accomplished as well. Use your local school resources as well the library or internet searches, to help you and your team write a more resume and or essay to showcase their passion, their dedication and their unique qualities that stand out from the crowd.
Speaker 1:Step five and the last one, once your teenager has been accepted to a summer program, remind them to embrace the experience. It's time to make the most of this incredible opportunity and enjoy the journey. Make sure that they are open to new experiences, that they learn how to step out of their comfort zone and take every opportunity for learning and connecting with other students, whether they're conducting scientific research, volunteering abroad or honing in on their artistic talents and remind them to embrace their journey and make it an unforgettable memory. To summarize, my sweet friend help your growing team identify their interests first and their goals. Start researching summer programs that align with who they are. Use the resources available to you to do that research. Encourage your teenager to connect with others and ask questions. Help them prepare a standout application and, once they have been accepted to a summer program, remind them to embrace and enjoy the journey.
Speaker 1:It is time to start looking for summer programs right now, because most application deadlines are months earlier. So please don't delay, my friend, and don't forget. Follow these step-by-step tips so your child can be ready to start applying for summer programs. And don't forget that I share a lot of programs and career exploration opportunities directly here on this podcast, so make sure you follow and subscribe to the podcast so you are alerted as soon as a new episode drops. Just click the subscribe or follow button. That's all you have to do.
Speaker 1:I actually had a full episode about a summer program in Utah at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, which actually also has a summer program for educators as well. This one in particular, is for students and educators interested in biomedical and cancer research. Now, this is a very competitive program. However, it does pay all of the expenses travel, meals and accommodations so it is a great program to apply Now. The application window has already closed, but mark your calendar, because each application window typically opens in December for the following summer. If you're interested in learning about this particular summer program, you can check it out. It's episode number 49 and I'll have the link in the show notes as well. And there you have it, my sweet friend a guide to finding a meaningful summer program and gaining valuable experiences as a student. That will help your child gain valuable experience this summer. Remember, the summer months are a time for exploration, growth and discovery, so don't let this opportunity pass your child by Now.
Speaker 1:Before we wrap up, I want to end with an inspirational thought for you. Nothing will inspire a parent to try harder and do better than a single look at their child, wherever you are hearing us from. The next time you're with your growing teen, just sit and observe them, put down the phone and just enjoy their presence, because they will know you are truly present. Look at them in their beautiful eyes and remind them how much you love them. Thank you for being here with me today. My sweet friend, until next week, stay well, be present and enjoy the journey. Hi friend, thank you for listening in. If you enjoyed this episode, it would mean so much to me. If you share it with a friend, share it with them right now or, even better, tag me so I can personally thank you for helping us build our community. I'm so thankful for each and every one of you. Let's keep in touch and I'll talk to you next week. Adios.