At Wellington, the College Counseling team encourages students to explore their interests with intention and curiosity, starting long before the application process begins. Through ongoing conversations, thoughtful programming, and personalized support, they help students identify what excites them, what challenges them, and what they want to understand more deeply.
Summer offers time and space to pursue those questions. For some students, that means diving into rigorous academic programs or taking on leadership roles. For others, it’s about testing out a potential career path or realizing one might not be the right fit after all. Whatever the path, these experiences often shape students’ sense of purpose and clarify their thinking about the future.
We caught up with four upper school students who shared what they did this summer and how it’s already influencing what comes next.
Enzo Corso ’25 - Columbia University Pre-College Program: Neuroscience of Psychiatric Disorders
Enzo spent two weeks immersed in an online pre-college course through Columbia University, exploring the neurochemical foundations of disorders such as schizophrenia, PTSD, and Alzheimer’s. His interest was first sparked at Wellington in the Advanced Psychology and Neuroscience class—and he followed that curiosity all the way to Columbia.
The course combined case studies, brain imaging research, and expert interviews, giving Enzo a clearer understanding of how science and patient care intersect. “This experience strengthened my goal of entering the medical field,” he said. “Whether that’s anesthesiology or psychology, I’m excited to keep exploring.”
His advice to other students? “The most valuable opportunities aren’t always the ones laid out in front of you; they’re the ones you go looking for because you were curious enough to ask questions and step into something unfamiliar.”
Oscar Humbert ’26 - Assistant Coordinator, Clintonville Academy Summer Program
This summer, Oscar took on a leadership role at his former elementary school, helping run a summer camp for 35–40 children each day. As assistant coordinator, he led a team of counselors, managed daily operations, scheduled field trips, handled parent communication, and collected timesheets for counselors.
“I couldn’t ask for a better job,” said Oscar. “It’s helped me grow not just as a leader of peers, but also in how I collaborate with adults and professionals.”
His advice for other students: “Try working with adults. It’s interesting how they begin talking to you more like an adult too—and that helps you grow into someone more mature and responsible.”
Alice Clark ’28 - Internship, Journalism Camp, and Psychology Course
Alice filled her summer with a variety of experiences. She interned with Wellington’s marketing and communications office, where she took and organized photos and contributed to social media. She also attended an in-person journalism camp at Ohio University, lived on campus during the program, and took an online social psychology course through the University of Notre Dame.
Reflecting on her experiences, Alice shared that while she enjoyed both journalism and psychology, she’s more likely to pursue psychology professionally. Her takeaway for other students: “Try everything. Apply everywhere. And just try.”
Annie Shen ’26 - Secondary Student Training Program at the University of Iowa
Annie spent over five weeks at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, conducting research in a neuropsychology lab as part of the highly selective Secondary Student Training Program. Her work examined the correlation between two pre-operative assessments for epilepsy patients, and she presented her findings at the program’s final poster fair. Alongside her lab partner and mentor team, including a Ph.D. student who guided her through the full research process, Annie learned about hospital systems, professional communication, and collaboration in a real-world medical setting.
Want to hear Annie’s full story in her own words?
There’s No One Right Way to Spend a Summer
From neuroscience labs to summer camp leadership to exploring new interests across multiple fields, these students show that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to making the most of your summer. Whether you're pursuing your passion, testing a possible career path, or discovering what isn’t the right fit, each experience helps build confidence, purpose, and perspective—one season at a time.