As I prepare for my junior year of high school, I look back at the lessons learned and look forward to the lessons I will learn. I learned things like waiting to study until a day before an AP history test will stress me out. And signing up for a lot of extracurricular activities wasn't the best idea. I look forward to how I will learn to stop procrastinating and only sign up for activities that I'm passionate about. Below are 11 things that every high schooler definitely needs to know.
1. Stop procrastinating.
You can tell yourself you will get it done tomorrow as many times as you'd like, but it won't change the fact you will continue to put it off until the very last minute. If you are a hardcore procrastinator, then follow these steps:
1. Get started.
2. Break the task down.
3.Get rid of distractions (iPhones, computers, etc.)
4. Set a deadline for yourself.
More than likely, your assignment isn't that difficult, you just have to focus and actually get started. If you want more information, check out Amy Spencer's article on how to stop procrastinating.
2. Find a passion.
My freshmen year, I was blessed with an extracurricular activity: speech and debate. Not only has it helped me develop skills that I will use in life, but it has introduced me to some amazing people and taken me from California to Florida for national tournaments. Trying different activities in high school can help you find your passion. This can help you find what career you want to go into as well as help you meet new people that could become your best friends.
3. Study.
Try to remember you're at school to actually learn, and studying is a part of that. Studying helps you develop a full education, self-discipline, time management skills and good study habits. Learning the material obviously helps you get good grades. If you want to find out more on why you should study, check out Make Your Mark's website.
4. High school is nothing like "Mean Girls."
Your fellow student's opinions don't define you now, and it especially won't matter once you're out of high school, which is probably closer than you think. It won't matter whether you were the beautiful Regina George or the nerdy Cady Heron. Once you graduate, it's really not going to matter. You should focus on your happiness and be happy with the quality of your friends instead of the quantity. Don’t waste time worrying about fitting in with a bunch of people you will likely never see again when your four years is up.
5. Grades don't determine how well you'll do in life.
For me, an "F" stood for "failure." I can't tell you how much disappointment I felt in myself when I didn't get an "A." After I had broken down in tears, my mom would say, "Nyah, the world is not going to end. Get back up, dust yourself off and tell yourself you're doing to kill the next test." That's exactly what we all need to do.
6. Don't play dumb to fit in.
Don't downplay your greatness. If you're an intelligent high schooler, own it. However, I understand that when you don't play dumb, you appear as a more of "threat," which actually makes you set yourself up for failure. People will begin expecting you to be great all the time, but know that, "If they're shooting at you, you know you're doing something right!"
7. The ACT/SAT is actually important.
Don't blow these standardized tests off! Most competitive colleges find these scores very important. Remember that these tests don't determine how your life will turn out, but they can help you get into a good college. Check out College Confidential's website to find out how important these tests really are. You can also look for ACT practice tests here and SAT practice tests here.
8. You're not invincible.
If you're like me, then you have definitely had times where everything sucks and you just want to stay in your bed and watch Netflix. High school isn't always perfect, and that's OK. Sometimes you just need a good cry because you're stressed out and sleep deprived. You're human.
9. Get organized.
Actually putting papers in places where you can find them will help you so much. Set aside a time before school starts to get yourself organized so that you can be prepared for the school year! You'll be able to perform more efficiently, find items faster and help save time by already having everything you need in a designated place.
10. Don't worry about getting a boyfriend/girlfriend.
We're young and we need to time to figure ourselves out. I'm not saying don't get a boyfriend/girlfriend. I'm saying that you don't need to worry yourself about it. Live in the moment and enjoy being single while you still have the opportunity.
11. Get you some Jesus.
It's important to have the Lord in your life. You will always have someone to talk to when you're feeling down, and the Bible has a scripture for every situation you'll go through. Remember to be thankful for everything God has done for you and that you're never, ever alone.
Although high school won't always be fun, cherish all of these moments. You only get to live through this once, so make it memorable. So far, I've gone through lots of laughing, crying, living, learning and I still have two more years to go. Make the most of your high school experience!
