The student body of Communications High School (CHS) is renowned for its drive and ambition. Many students participate in a multitude of activities both during the school year and the summer. CHS.
CHS students plan to spend their time at the beach getting a tan, working, and attending summer camps nationwide. In recent years, students’ desire to boost their college profile has led them to participate in a wide variety of extracurricular activities throughout the summer.
Sophomore Charlotte Mathias of West Long Branch plans to attend the School of Creative and Performing Arts (SOCAPA) in New York this summer to study advanced film. She was able to apply using the films and scripts she had made during her sophomore year at CHS.
Mathias feels as though the decision to attend SOCAPA wasn’t just based on expanding her college application, but a way for her to expand her skillset.
“I have definitely participated in programs that I felt would stand out on college applications,” said Mathias. “I think this is one of them, and although it’s a great opportunity, I’m applying to advance my skills in filmmaking.”
Programs like this have grown in popularity in recent years, leading to students needing to find balance in their schedules. Sophomore Charlie Christoph of Rumson is spending his summer in the Caribbean on a three-week-long scuba-diving voyage. Christoph is coupling this with cleaning boats and volunteering as an Emergency Medical Technician. Although participating in many activities throughout the summer could be a difficult task to manage, Christoph is not deterred.
“During the summer, I want to strengthen friendships and develop a better relationship with self-discipline,” said Christoph. “I feel like I do have pressure to do more extracurriculars, but it comes down to what I want to accomplish.”
CHS’ driven student body is what encourages students to participate in summer programs; however, some CHS faculty believe that these commitments can become overwhelming.
“I don’t personally pressure students to do that. Most of our students are involved in, sometimes, too many things, which is good in some ways,” said CHS math teacher and SkillsUSA advisor Scott Stengele. “I think that some activities certainly could help if it’s something they might be thinking about going into as a career in the future.”
For some students, college preparation isn’t at the forefront of their minds when planning their summers. Junior Shawn Ribeiro of West Long Branch prefers spending his break doing the things he enjoys.
“I don’t really do things specifically for college applications,” said Ribeiro. “The things that I do are because I’m passionate about them, and if they look good on my college application, that’s just an added bonus.”
