It’s been a while since Integra Youth’s last webinar and we were so lucky to have one of our co-founders at Integra Youth, Zora Zheng, kicking it off for us! Zora Zheng is a rising junior studying at Harvard University studying environmental science and engineering. Her webinar for us was about maximizing your time and tips for a productive summer.
A Little Bit About Integra Youth
If this is your first time reading our blog, here is a little bit about us and what we do.
Integra Youth is a student-run registered non-profit that provides free virtual 1-on-1 tutoring and academic resources for youth in shelters, youth at risk of homelessness, and low income families.
We are currently accepting tutee and executive member applications.
We also offer unique programs such as weekly webinars (come listen to webinars such as this one), blog posts, and exciting opportunities for youth! These opportunities include book clubs, science fairs, and coding camps—all of which have been done in the past!
Stay tuned for more exciting updates!
Zora’s Webinar
As stated above, this week’s webinar was about maximizing your time, with many tips to have your most productive summer yet! Zora provided viewers with many opportunities to brainstorm activities and other things to do over the summer in case your summer bucket list is looking a little empty.
So, let’s hear what she had to say!
To Reflect, To Learn, and To Share
The basis of Zora’s webinar revolves around the idea that in order to have your most productive (and fun!) summer yet, you should strive to reflect, learn, and share.
Read on to read more about these three steps!
Reflect
Reflection is the first part of Zora’s productive summer trifecta!
Zora says that reflecting is a great way to help us see where our life is at the current moment. We can also use reflection to improve our lives and introduce new habits. Reflecting on ourselves on a regular basis is a great way to set ourselves up for success.
Here are some questions Zora suggests asking yourself while reflecting…
What have I achieved?
What challenges have I faced and overcome?
What have I learned about myself?
What do I like and dislike about myself and my current life?
What specific goals can I set for myself moving forward?
How can I track my progress?
It is important to remember that reflection is an ongoing practice that requires practice to perfect. In case you don’t get the hang of it right away, keep trying! Reflection is a crucial step towards self improvement and discovery.
Learning
Another thing you can do this summer is learn! You heard us—learning doesn’t just stop because school is over. Everything we do is an opportunity to learn new things and explore new passions.
Here are some ways to learn new things and improve your skills during the summer!
Take an online course
Choose whatever you are passionate about! Coding, baking, knitting, there are online courses for just about any skill imaginable.
This can help strengthen your resume
Certain courses also offer useful certifications
Sign up for a summer program
University programs often offer summer programs for high school students interested in a variety of fields
Many also offer scholarships to make them more accessible
Attend a seminar, workshop or conference on subject areas that you are interested in
Reach out to experts in your field of interest
People are always very eager to share about their experience and research
Don’t be afraid to reach out to people and see if they are available to help you out!
Cold-Email for internships
You never know what opportunities you could get!
*See your resources section below to learn more about cold-emailing
Conduct your own research
Is there a topic that really interests you? Why not learn more about it?
*See your resources section below to learn more about conducting your own research
Learn a new language
Pick up a new hobby
Zora’s biggest tip for you all is to use the internet to your advantage. There are so many sites and apps available that can help you learn to do all kinds of things. From online courses to language learning apps, the world really is at our fingertips. And don’t forget the limitless information you have access to with just the click of a button.
Learning, much like reflection, is an ongoing, lifelong process and something you can do at any stage of life. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things. Oftentimes, you will discover so much about yourself along the way.
Zora also wants you all to remember that it’s okay if you try something and it doesn’t quite work out the way you wanted it to. Learning that you don’t like something is an important thing to learn about yourself. And it helps you discover what you do like!
Starting to learn something new may feel daunting, so Zora encourages you all to make trackable and achievable goals that keep you motivated and on top of your game. The easier it is to track your progress, the more excitement you will feel regarding your project. Zora also hopes you all can enjoy the learning process, especially when you begin learning about things you are truly passionate about.
Share
Finally, the last step: share! Zora hopes you all will take what you’ve learned this summer to share your creations and knowledge with others.
Here are some ways for you to share and express your knowledge.
Start your own blog
You can choose to write a blog on any topic you want
Write your own book
While you may not finish an entire book in a single summer, the summer is a great time to start
Arrange your own art exhibit
Hold your own workshop or seminar
Or sign up to host a webinar with Integra Youth!
Hold a fundraiser
Create your own YouTube videos
Post about music, fashion, art, science, and so much more!
Participate in community events
Volunteer
Mentor others
This is a wonderful way for you to share your knowledge and new found expertise!
Sharing your skills is the most rewarding part of the learning process. Fun events such as art exhibits or workshops are a great way to connect with family and friends. Additionally, your new found knowledge can help you give back to your community and make a positive impact on the world!
Starting the Search
It can be hard to find opportunities that interest you, especially if you are interested in something very specific.
Here are some of Zora’s best tips when it comes to starting the search!
Zora highly recommends asking for help when you need it and not being afraid to reach out to professionals in fields you find interesting. Networking is one of the best ways to get neat opportunities you may not have heard of before!
Passion Projects
Next in her webinar, Zora talked about passion projects.
So what is a passion project?
Well, as Zora says, a passion project can be whatever you want. A lot of learning that we do on our own time actually falls under the category of a passion project. In fact, doing any of the things that we mentioned above counts as a passion project if you want it to!
A passion project is a method for exploring your interests and expressing yourself creatively. At their core, passion projects are a way to pursue your interests and create something meaningful and valuable that reflects who you are and what you care about.
Fun fact: Integra Youth was created by Zora Zheng and Flavia Allajbeu as a passion project back in 2020!
Zora’s best tip for sticking to your passion project is to start it with a friend to keep yourself accountable.
So, how can you start a passion project? See the list below for Zora’s foolproof instructions to planning, creating, and sharing your next passion project!
1. Identify your passion
Find out what inspires you!
Passion projects are all about pursuing something you love and creating something meaningful so be sure to spend time figuring out what you want to spend your time working on
Find our WHY
Finding a reason to do your passion project will make it so much easier to keep going
2. Define your project
What is it that you want to create?
3. Set goals and timelines
When do you want to do what?
Make achievable goals and a rough timeline to keep yourself on track
4. Develop a plan
Figure out what resources you’ll need and don't be afraid to ask for help
5. Take action!
Just start!
6. Share your project!!
Publish it online, showcase it at an event, and share it with friends and family!
Final Thoughts
While summer is a great time to learn new things and be your most productive self, Zora wants you all to remember that a productive summer doesn't mean you have to fill your calendar to the brim. She hopes you all take some time to relax and prioritize caring for yourself and your unique needs.
Summer can be a great time to recharge, relax, and take care of yourself. It’s completely fine (and even productive) to spend your summer reflecting on yourself and spending time doing what makes you happy.
Zora also hopes to drive home the fact that it’s never a waste of time to experiment with hobbies and interests. Even discovering that you don’t like doing something can be a meaningful learning moment. No matter what you do with your summer, you are always learning something important about who you are as a person and what you want to do in the future.
Zora also advises you all to choose passion projects that you truly enjoy, instead of choosing something you think others will like or something that will get you into college. Pursuing your true interests will give you the motivation and joy needed to produce the best results. And you’ll have the most fun!
So, there you have it: Zora Zheng’s best tips for maximizing productivity and having your most productive summer yet!. Go and enjoy the sun!
Resources
Want to learn more about a topic we mentioned today?
Check out our past webinar recaps on these useful topics:
The Importance of Research and How to Conduct Your Own
Cold-Emailing and Outreach
Many of the pictures used in today's webinar recap came from Unsplash. Check out their website below:
Zora has put together a comprehensive list of resources for you all to use to make the most out of your summer. Click the link below to check it out!
Written by: Nevadha Murugarajan