For many, summer vacation means kicking back for three months, free of responsibilities. No doubt, relaxing is an important part of summer so we can come back to school refreshed and excited to re-engage.
But 3 months of couch time, without stimulation or social interaction spells disaster for a young mind.
This is why RU Connected matters, and why the efforts made by RUD students to participate matter so much. Consider the alternatives—playing video games, sleeping in, watching movies, or simply hanging at home.
Instead, for over 2 weeks, RU Connected campers woke up early and brought their “A” game to the Northwest Activities Center each day, applying their brains and creative engines to tough problems. They jumped into uncharted tech territory to learn new skills and web-based tools, not knowing at the outset why it would matter. Soon enough, however, they realized that they were building a fierce repertroire of useful tricks, short cuts, and work arounds, all of which they will be able to apply throughout their academic, personal, and professional lives.
They missed out on some serious down time, for sure. This happens when you make a commitment to something, when you give your time and energy to a project, a goal, or a team effort. But I hope the students all recognize that this tradeoff was worthwhile. I also hope that now, “I’m in!” will be a lifelong habit of theirs. Saying “yes” to opportunities, going for it, making and keeping commitments always bring more exciting and more empowering results than “Nah, I’m good…I’m just gonna chill.”
Thank you to those of you went for it—our participants and family members.
Thank you to those of you who made it happen—Patrick, Paul, Maryl, Susan, Erin, and Katie.
We are all connected now in our willingness to take a positive risk for a big reward.
With Inspiration,
Derek