Summer Classes Inspired by Characters from Literature

Okay, so summer classes sound like a bore. Why be in school when you can lounge by the pool? You have your gen eds, like mathematics, English, and science. But what about those summer electives? Go on, branch out. Summer can absolutely include learning, and the very best teachers are the ones from literature.

Introduction to Beekeeping // The Secret Life of Bees

If there’s one thing that The Secret Life of Bees has taught us, it’s that being a beekeeper is pretty awesome. Plus, learning now to become a beekeeper would totally help save the bees. Take it from Lily Owens—sometimes you go looking for one thing, and you find something different and somehow better. Learn how to care for bees, help the world, and learn a lot about yourself. That sounds like a well-rounded elective.

Fangirl 101 // The Fangirl’s Guide to the Galaxy

Welcome to the immersive world of being a geek girl. Take your seat. Here’s the syllabus. If you read along, you’ll see we’ll be covering topics like how to cosplay, write great fanfic with feels, and become an active member of your fandom. If you aren’t sure about a term, please refer to the Glossary of Fancy Fanfic-Speak and the Glossary of Secret Feminist Code Words, Lingo, and Slang. All of this and more can be found in your trusty textbook, The Fangirl’s Guide to the Galaxy by Sam Maggs. This course is more of an overview of being a fangirl as a whole. In truth, you don’t need to know how to be a fangirl. If you want to be one, you are one.

Everything You Need to Know About Braces // Smile

No matter your age, if you have braces, you know there should be a class dedicated to teaching you how to cope with metal wires in your mouth. Raina Telgemeier spares no details in her personal account of the horrors of braces, headgear, and retainers. As for those of us who have had braces, can we all agree that a course on the subject would be super beneficial? It’s reassuring that you’re not going through it alone. The course can also double as a support group for those of us who have been told, “You’ll get your braces off next time. Promise.” Man, what a lie. We need people like Raina to tell us the cold hard facts.

Divination // Harry Potter

With the recent reveal of the North American Wizarding School, Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, it’s time to get back to some magical roots. What’s a better summer elective than an actual Hogwarts elective? Harry, Ron, and Hermione may have rolled their eyes, but Divination is the art of foreseeing the future, and that can so pay off in the long run. If you take Divination this summer, maybe you can predict getting that A+, right?