When people told me that high school will be the best four years of your life, I truly believed them. I created wonderful memories, dedicated myself to my classes, and made sweet friendships. However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing; there were also moments that proved challenging. As my high school career comes to an end, here is the best advice I can offer.
Create a Routine
We all know that high school can get crazy with sports, AP tests, final exams, deadlines, etc. This is why time management is important. I needed to find time to complete my homework and study, while also balancing practice and rehearsals. I suggest making a specific time to complete assignments and study for tests. It’s going to be hard, and you are going to want to be lazy, but your grades will thank you.
Surround Yourself with Genuine People
Friendships can be so rewarding, and you want to have people you can lean on and enjoy your senior year with but make sure you are creating friendships with people who value you and fill your cup. Don’t waste time on people who focus on popularity, drama, relationships, and chaos. There will always be cliques and mean girls in high school, but my advice is to stay true to yourself and be with people who are kind, genuine, and have your back when it’s not easy.
START EARLY
If you plan to go to college, my biggest piece of advice is to start the process early. Start touring schools you like during your junior year, start planning your college essay, and set up your Common App! I thought I had so much more time, but days go by as you blink, and you have strict deadlines to meet. The first semester of senior year was so stressful for me because I put all of it off and started slacking. You want to be able to enjoy your first semester because that’s when you can hang out with friends, go to the Friday night football games, and soak up all the last moments. If you start the process early, you will have so much more time to relax and create more memories.
Ask For Help
It is okay to ask for help if you need it; it is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength. Whether that means asking questions in class, going to a tutor, going to see your counselor when you’re having a bad day, or even telling a trusted adult about how you’re feeling. I thought that reaching out for help when I needed it would make me look weird, but it only helped me thrive and succeed throughout high school.
Get Involved
What helped me make the most out of my high school experience was getting involved in clubs and societies. I have created amazing bonds with teachers and other students by going to club meetings and staying for after school events. It also helped me show colleges how involved I am and my leadership roles. I suggest going to those club meetings after school and staying involved in extracurricular activities because it will only help you.
Closing Thoughts
High school can look different for everyone, and it might not go the way you want it to, and that’s okay. My biggest piece of advice is to stay focused on what matters, your academics, grades, and extracurricular activities, but also spend time with people you love and create memories. Your high school years, especially senior year, is only what you make it. It will go by in the blink of an eye, so make the most of everyday, even when it seems exhausting or too much.