By Cheryl Mattox Berry
My grandmother, Lucile Lee, was a woman ahead of her time. For example, she would fill a Mason jar full of good-tasting Memphis aquifer water from the kitchen faucet and carry it with her when she left home. She didn’t live long enough to witness the bottled water craze. She would have gotten a good laugh seeing people imitate her but paying for it.
She was a proponent of healthy eating and baked or boiled chicken. Every dinner came complete with big pots of fresh vegetables. Thanks to her, I like all types of beans and vegetables except cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. I think that’s only because she didn’t introduce these two veggies to me as a child.
Granny also believed in year-round school long before it became popular in some school districts. She made us study in the summer so that we wouldn’t forget what we learned during the school year. That was a problem for my siblings and cousins but not me because I liked school. I lived in our neighborhood library during the summer.
With so much pressure on students to pass state mandated tests before receiving a diploma, raise their GPAs and score high on ACT and SAT exams, it would behoove many of you to follow Granny’s advice and attend summer school, tutoring programs or camps devoted to math or science. Some organizations, such as fraternities and sororities, offer free tutoring during the summer.
I know, you’re tired of school and need a break. Keep in mind that you won’t be in class the whole day, just a few hours. For a few weeks, you’ll concentrate on only one subject, which should make it easier to master the concepts. You may also be in a smaller class, and that will allow the teacher to give you individualized attention.
Some students don’t like asking questions in class, but in summer session you may feel more at ease because of the smaller class. If there’s another student in class who knows the material, don’t be shy about setting up a study date with him/her.
You just may meet some new friends when you enroll in summer school or special tutoring programs. The atmosphere is less social and more academic. You don’t have to worry about cliques, clubs or extra-curricula activities. Everyone is there for the same purpose: to improve and/or get ahead.
After class, there’s still time to do whatever you want, whether it’s working or hanging with friends. Think about volunteering. Summer is a good time to rack up community service hours that you don’t have time to do during the school year. However you decide to spend the summer, make sure you allot time to do things that keep your study skills sharp.