Making Summer Break Count: A Guide for Students on Spending Holidays with Purposeful Activities

KOHIMA — With several schools and colleges in Nagaland on summer break, many students may find the sudden shift from rigorous academic schedules to unstructured free time surprisingly dull.

Yet, this weeks-long pause is more than just a break—it’s a golden opportunity to rest, recharge, and rediscover oneself through purposeful activities.

Here are a few constructive ways students can make the most of their summer break:

• Visit Native Village – Spend time in your native village and reconnect with your roots by helping parents/ grandparents/ relatives with daily chores. Learn traditional crafts, folk songs, tribal stories, or local language. It is the perfect time to strengthen identity and heritage. Rediscovering one’s history and roots will help one stay rooted and sail through a world that is now polarised with confusion to strike a balance.

• Engage in Agriculture or Farming – Get hands-on experience with farming activities to appreciate hard work and nature. This will help one appreciate the value of food, farmers, and parents. In the wake of climate change and food security concerns that are plaguing the entire world, this will help us discover and also adapt to sustainable practices of lifestyle and farming. This summer break can also be used to discover and identify the indigenous crops and seeds being cultivated by the farmers in the village, besides gaining hands-on experience.

• Attend Vacation Bible School (VBS) or Summer Camps – These are great avenues for learning, fun, and making new friends. This would help the spiritual and mental health of a person and also redefine one’s purpose and broaden one’s mind.

• Take up Internships – Students can explore internship opportunities for career exposure. Having an interface with professionals from various fields will help one get to know more about different professions. Under the new education system, there are mandatory internships for certain fixed hours for college going students, and this summer break can be a fulfilling experience filled with purpose, broadening one’s perspective and horizon about work culture and also gaining experience.

• Develop a Hobby – Whether it’s painting, playing a musical instrument, baking or writing, now is a good time to nurture a hobby. Reading books beyond the syllabus expands vocabulary, critical thinking, and imagination.

• Learn a New Skill – Join a physical or virtual class to learn something new—be it coding, baking, photography, weaving, knitting, or a new language. In a world where health and dietary habits are becoming major concerns due to a dependency culture on fast foods, learning to make homemade foods, local cuisines, and discovering local ingredients will be an added advantage.

• Socialise with Friends and Family – Reconnect with loved ones, build stronger relationships, and enjoy quality time together. Catch up with friends and family who were being overshadowed by hectic academic schedules, go hiking, cycling, visit a new restaurant, talk about life, and encourage one another.

After all, staying healthy is the best wealth—and to do that, be physically active, stay hydrated, eat healthy foods this summer, and maintain a journal. Reflecting on your day and setting goals boosts self-awareness and builds a habit of planning ahead. Journaling can also help you write your essays at school or college post-summer break when asked for.

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The role of parents in supporting students to not let the break slip by is equally important. Let the students spend their summer break meaningfully, use this time wisely, and return to school with refreshed minds and new experiences.