PHS PERSPECTIVE: Students making their marks this summer

By Jinwoo Chong and Tiffany Wang
   Summer brings many things — sweltering heat, horrid humidity, painful sunburns, unseemly sweat stains — and, of course, a reason to think up an amazing — but nigh impossible to accomplish list of summer plans.
   Many students know the feeling of being completely free of obligations — no school, little requisite work, and too much time on their hands.
   But how to fill the void? Daily trips into town? Perhaps perpetual Skype sessions with friends?
   There are, however, some who are ambitious enough to create a full-out ‘Summer Bucket List — basically, a detailed list of things to do before the pressure of school appears once more, though fulfilling the list is a completely different question.
   The beach’s siren song calls to many Princeton High School students who — after a grueling school year — simply wish to enjoy the sea and sand of the Jersey shore.
   ”A lot of my friends are going to colleges far away, so I won’t see them very often. I would love to spend time with them at the beach,” said Nicky Kratzer, a senior.
   ”The beach is definitely on my summer to-do list,” said Felicia He, also a senior. “I never have a chance to go to the beach during the school year, so now that I have more free time, it’s only logical to spend quality time at the beach.”
   To rising seniors, though, summer break is the perfect chance to scope out universities. With so many colleges and universities all over the country — and the world — to choose from, time is of the essence, and there is no better time to go college-hopping than summer vacation.
   ”I really want to go on college visits because I want to know which college suits me best … also I want to check out which college will help me build a better career and a better future,” said Sima Kalam. “I hope to visit some colleges this summer. It’s the only way you can really know whether or not a college is right for you,” said Michael Hamati.
   For others, summer is an opportunity to further their academic achievements. And while many students opt to take SAT preparatory courses or attend academically geared camps, there are a few who are motivated to rely on self-study to excel academically.
   ”I want to finish my physics and engineering courses online so that I can expand my knowledge on those subjects,” said Hamati.
   ”I’m going to be doing a chemistry program at the Rutgers prep school … I hope to take both Physics 105 at Princeton University along with AP chemistry this coming school year,” said Daksh Sharma, a junior.
   With two free months and the means to accomplish their personal goals, the options of cooling their heels at the beach or sitting at home with an engaging book begin to seem less appealing. Summer is the time to realize long-harbored dreams, or to take to the skies and travel the globe.
   ”This summer I’m planning on writing a book because I have always wanted to make my own large story. Writing is something I enjoy and since I have a lot of free time this summer I figured that it would be a good idea,” said Collin Hong, a junior.
   Others, like Liv Rand, a senior, and Menelaos Mazarakis, a junior, are taking the opportunity to leave the continent.
   ”I’ll be singing with the American Atlantic Chorale in Switzerland for the Montreux Jazz Festival,” Rand said.
   Rand, along with several other students from PHS, will perform with the Philadelphia Jazz Orchestra several times during the festival, the second largest jazz festival in the world, which traditionally takes place on the shores of Lake Geneva.
   ”It’s definitely something I’ve never done before, and I couldn’t be more excited,” added Rand.
   Mazarakis, president of the Princeton Peru Partnership nonprofit organization, recently checked off one item on his own bucket list — by taking a trip to Cuzco, Peru.
   ”I went to Peru with my father to seek out nonprofit projects near Cuzco … We found two nonprofit organizations which we will be funding with the money we raised last year. One is a cultural school in Taray, which was destroyed three years ago by a mudslide, and is still struggling to get on its feet. The second is the Sacred Valley Project, a girls’ dormitory that houses orphans who lack accessibility to quality education,” said Mazarakis.
   Whether relaxing by the seashore or building a school in Peru, Princeton High School students are making a definite mark on the world.
   Jinwoo Chong and Tiffany Wang are going to be seniors this year at Princeton High School.