WELLESLEY, MASS. --Chances are if you’re on the TeenLife website, you’re already aware that there is an abundance of opportunity for you to volunteer and get involved in your community. What you may not know is that TeenLife also lists many other experiential opportunities to explore and offers a comprehensive bookstore for further research and reading.
Have you ever thought about going abroad, dual enrollment, being a mentor, or job shadowing a professional? If you’re looking to take your alternative learning experiences to the next level, consider checking out Rebecca Greene’s "The Teenager’s Guide to School Outside the Box.”
Greene’s guidebook is well organized, very readable, and tailored to a teen audience. Greene makes it easy to find the information you’re looking for by dividing "The Teenager’s Guide to School Outside the Box” into two parts. The first details alternative learning you can experience from home and the second part explores study abroad opportunities, adventure camps, and international programs. Having engaged in many alternative-learning experiences herself, Greene’s tone is distinctively personal, like a friend who you can trust for great tried-and-true advice. Greene also includes the voices of a variety of learners through "Spotlight On…” sections in which teens share their own experiences with alternative learning – both good and bad.
Although a few sections are dated (the guidebook was published in 2001 and there is a section about online courses… enough said), Greene’s guidance is timeless. Each chapter includes tips with key points bolded so that even skimming can be meaningful, and a "Find Out More” page, which directs you to helpful websites and further reading. Greene provides clear step-by-step instructions, making tasks like creating a résumé, requesting a letter of recommendation, or finding programs abroad more manageable.
Even if you’re already involved in alternative or experiential learning, "The Teenager’s Guide to School Outside the Box” is still a great read. Under Greene’s direction, you may realize that your current volunteer position can be transformed into an internship or apprenticeship, allowing you to make a greater impact. Choose "The Teenager’s Guide to School Outside the Box” for an upbeat and engaging read that’s sure to inspire you to get out of the box!
Casey Accardi is a junior at Wellesley High School who is interested in communications, social work, and psychology. She is co-president of the Premier Choir of the Boston Children's Chorus and music director of her school's female a cappella group, Ladies First.
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WELLESLEY, MASS. --Chances are if you’re on the TeenLife website, you’re already aware that there is an abundance of opportunity for you to volunteer and get involved in your community. What you may not know is that TeenLife also lists many other experiential opportunities to explore and offers a comprehensive bookstore for further research and reading. 
