I keep a snapshot in my office of the sun setting over the Atlantic Ocean. There are palm leaves in the corner, and the pink and orange color of the skyline always makes me smile. It's truly a beautiful place. I hope to see it myself someday.
The picture was given to me several years ago by a friend. She was visiting Andros Island with her husband, playing tourist with their son, who was a guide at one of the area's resorts at the time.
My friend never pictured her son as a marine biologist. For starters, they live in Kansas – home to wheat fields, not ocean waves. For most of his life, Jeremy wanted to be a veterinarian. But a family vacation to Florida, coupled by a high school course in marine biology, altered his course.
He applied to colleges on the east and west coasts, leaving behind his Midwest roots for the ocean's depths. His summer vacations were spent exploring the water he loved, whether he was conducting research off the coast of Maine or serving as a diving instructor in the Caribbean.
Jeremy graduated with a bachelor's degree in biology. He took a year off to explore the water he loved as a deep sea diving instructor, and is finishing his last year of graduate school. People are surprised when they learn he didn't grow up on the water. In fact, he was 17 years old before he saw the ocean for the first time. If it hadn't been for his family's vacation, he might have never had discovered his true passion.
I love this story. I love knowing that one day we may encounter something that will change our lives completely. Some people experience this change reading a magazine article, or seeing something on television. Others discover a new interest through classes. Students often get a glimpse into their future during summer vacations.
High school and college students who spend their time away from the classroom as participants in a summer internship program know what they'd like to do with their life beyond school, or are exploring the possibilities. It is the students who are spending time with their family in a new setting that may face a life-changing moment much like Jeremy's. It won't happen every time you pack the car and drive to a new destination, but it's a possibility, especially if you take steps to make learning a part of the trip.
I “inherited” a tradition from my mother, who was a teacher. On every vacation, we devoted at least 50 percent of the time to learning. We played word games (subtly working on vocabulary skills), and learned to read topographical maps riding across the country in the car – without air conditioning! My husband and I carried on the tradition with our own kids, visiting presidential libraries, state historical museums, and national parks as frequently as amusement parks.
If you're planning a trip this summer, make the whole family a part of the process. Go to the library and check out books on your chosen destination. If your vacation spot is home to a historical event or figure, learn as much as you can about the incident or person before you visit the museum.
If a quieter vacation, such as a week on a remote lake, is closer to what you have planned, visit the Department of Natural Resource's website to learn about the fish and wildlife you'll likely see. It sounds simple, but even the act of locating information will improve your student's workforce skills. The ability to locate information is one of the most sought after skills in the workplace.
If your family isn't taking a trip this year, don't worry. It isn't necessary to travel to expose your student to new experiences and possibilities. Again, your local library is a great resource. Visit it often so you and your family are comfortable exploring its offerings. You can read about places you'd like to visit, even checking out cookbooks to create the food popular in those areas.
Perhaps your teen can start a book club with friends, with each member choosing a book involving a place they'd like to visit or a career they hope to explore.
This may get teens thinking about the future, as well as keep their reading skills sharp.
Exploring the unknown opens doors we have yet to peek through. Take advantage of the adventure this summer in any way you can!
Rose Rennekamp is the vice president of communications for ACT. She is a mom and has a master's of education in guidance and counseling. For more college and career-planning information, visit http://www.actstudent.org.
Have a question you want answered in a future column? Send a letter to this newspaper or e-mail Rose at [email protected].
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