The Coolest Summer Job for High School Students

Slurpees, Dollar-Cones, S'mores and Ice-Capps... yes you guessed right - are quintessential summer treats so many of us look forward to enjoying. Looking back on summers past (the title of this post gives it away), those high school summer nights were filled with grabbing a cool drink then heading off to the movies, board game cafes or to the playground. Yes, I pride myself with friends who play grounders with me even now. Age is just a number, isn't it? The summer before university though, people have internships, start studying early, travel, or are preparing to take a gap year. I wanted to challenge myself, get out of my comfort zone and not follow the safe route of an office role or relaxing on a white sandy beach. Instead, I took on the coolest summer job and this is why you should too.

Paid? Check. Outdoors? Yes. Adventure? Definitely. Friends? Why not? Mentors? Of course. As a Junior Forest Ranger, I got everything I wanted to do my last summer of official freedom - plus getting a paycheck while doing so. And I'm willing to bet every country and region offers similar opportunities for high school students that most aren't even aware of. We live in a modern era where if you don't catch up or exceed the pace of life, you get left behind. Consumers, employees, businesses switch constantly and are all vying for your limited attention. High schoolers, this cycle never ends, and there is so much you will learn in school, work, and throughout life, so slow down, take a deep breath and let me take you down to earth.

The summer of 2018 was exhausting AND exhilarating. From day 1, you are trained in CPR, radio, machine mechanics, knots and fire-fighting. You also become a game master, cheerleader, friend, and an adventurer. After the first week of intense activities with 100 or so other students, teams bid each other farewell and head to their own camps. Our group home was at Rocky Mountain House, a beautiful quaint town, yes, but our cabins were located an hour away at a firebase. Every day, waking up the birds chirping and alongside professional wildfire, fighters are truly inspirational. The projects we completed were challenging, including trail building, community volunteering, and the hours were long. However, the results are truly rewarding. I built the paths generations will walk on and enjoy, protected the forest and animals from man-made hazards, and made lifelong friendships and mentor relationships. Most importantly, it is the perfect reset button to allow anyone to embrace and tackle the looming adulthood that is soon approaching. Now, you might be thinking I'm wild, are you are most likely right - but the takeaway is to step out and think as if you are writing a novel in the third person omniscient point of view and you are the protagonist. Try new things, knock on the career centre's doors, pick up that brochure, go volunteer aboard, become a community leader, or start a business idea. For me, that was canoeing down the North Saskatchewan River at dawn, watching the stars at night and yes- of course eating S'mores.

Cheers,

Kelly

#AdventureAwaits #HighSchool #Career