As the school year is back in full swing, many students are asking “What did you do this summer?” Here is how PCDS students are responding to the question:
Sophomores Grace Bower and Madi Faulkner volunteered on campus at the PCDS Summer Program. The work included showing kids to their classrooms, and working as teacher’s assistants.Faulkner commented “It helped me grow to be more stable and more responsible because it was kind of like having a real job, even though I wasn’t getting paid. I had to show up on time, clock in and clock out, so it really got me ready for the real world.”
Freshman River Libhart said that he spent much of his summer “composing music for the professional play Whispers in the Dark at the Southwest Shakespeare Company.” While Libhart did say that “it was really freaking hard,” he believes it helped him intensely improve his musical skills.
Junior Mary Bartolino spent three weeks in the back country with the Northwest Youth Corps, based in Oregon. Bartolino built and restored the Grindstone Trail, a path in Mount Rainier. Bartolino commented, “I think it was a great use of my summertime. I got really close with my crewmates and it teaches you a lot about responsibility outside of just getting tests done and studying.”
Freshman Nyla Joy volunteered at Kiva Elementary School for Camp Invention, a weeklong summer STEM program. She taught kids problem solving skills and how to program robots. Joy commented, “It was really fun. And I got to do it with some of my friends.”
Sophomore Vivienne Bert worked as a surf coach in Manhattan Beach, California. After attending surf camp when she was eleven years old, she was able to take her love of surfing further and return as an instructor. Bert said, “I learned to be patient with people learning new things, to be more social, and make more friends, especially with older coworkers.” And she “100%” agrees PCDS Students should have a summer job.
All of these PCDS students had unique experiences this summer. But each student learned something, whether it was a sense of responsibility or a deeper love and understanding for what they did.
