Cheryl Wong, 18, Shun Lee Catholic Secondary School Summer vacation is not only a time for students to rest, but also an important period for them to develop their interests and potential, especially in non-academic areas. During summer, there are many activities for parents and students to choose from. Joining a summer camp is a popular choice, where students move out of their comfort zone and meet new people and new challenges. Most participants are of a similar age, and share duties and resources to complete a task and deal with conflicts on their own. They learn interpersonal skills, and develop a better understanding of themselves, finding their role in a group and discovering their strengths. There is a wide range of summer camps to suit the interests of different students. Some are for a specific purpose, such as a military training camp, which helps young people develop physically and mentally. Others offer all sorts of activities, from sports and music, to cookery and language lessons. The experience helps them to become independent. Summer camps give students greater exposure to real life, and help them develop different aspects of their character. Matthew Murchie, 15, St Joseph's College Summer is a time to relax, when adults and children have a rare chance to sit back and enjoy a blissful month or two free from the pressures of work or studies. For students, who will have recently completed their gruelling exams, summer holidays offer a much-awaited break. Psychologically, it is important for them to have time to release the pressures of the school year, so that they can start the new academic year with refreshed minds and enthusiasm. Though summer camps are often unrelated to academia, students will still be pushed to learn, achieve and improve. This defeats the purpose of the summer break; the camps will hardly differ from the structured, studious routine of school. It is true that camps can help students develop their talents, but they are really no more effective than training courses held during the school year. Regardless of the field, camps require hard work and energy, depriving students of the blissful break they so look forward to. If a student is intent on relaxing after the pressures of an exam, it can be almost impossible to force them to learn new things. Far from being beneficial, it may well have adverse effects.
