You know the type of schools I’m referring to. The schools where you were lucky to find a textbook that didn’t have male genitals sketched all over it. The schools where the first thing a substitute teacher heard was “yo sir, SMD.” The schools with not enough qualified, caring and dedicated teachers and administrators, but rather a plethora of judgmental overseers that label students as troublemakers and failures before giving them a chance. The schools where students don't receive proper college and SAT preparation. The school's at risk for being closed or unaccredited. I and so many others are products of these schools. And I want you to know that we have been through the system. We discovered that there's more to life beyond those condescending teachers and gloomy hallways. Our struggle wasn't new and neither is yours. So, don't let your school define your future.

You can do so by first having a plan to continually progress forward after you graduate. See most of the students from my school didn't have a plan so they took a “gap year.” A gap year can have two end results. Either you take a break, find yourself, and prepare for adulthood. Or you become idle for an immeasurable amount of time. Once you're idle, you watch your friends progress without you, your parents begin to nag you about what you plan to do, and every day becomes a bit gloomier because you aren’t sure of the future. So don't spiral into the post-high-school-what-to-do-blues. Instead, experiment with your options. You may travel, go to school, get a job, or try a new hobby. Just have a plan, be productive and continue moving forward.

If you do wish to go to school it is also important to understand that there is no shame in attending a community college. I went straight to a 4-year college at the age of 18 and I wasn't ready for it. I should have attended a community college so that I could properly mature and choose a major.

Community colleges offer the unique opportunity to catch up to standard testing levels for a low cost. They are a great buffer between high school, and they are very helpful when making a career choice. In fact, 46 percent of all students who completed a 4-year degree had been enrolled at a 2-year institution at some point and there is a high graduation rate for community college transfers. Everyone's route to success is different. Just find what suits you better, whether it be Ivy league or community college or none of the above.

With that being said it is also important to search endlessly for extra-curricular opportunities both during and after high school. There are so many programs from local colleges to local organizations that allow high school students to experiment with career choices and hobbies. In high school, friends of mine enrolled into minority programs at Columbia University that assisted with college prep. A few joined a geriatrics program that offered them CNA training and licensing while in high school. Due to the lack of funding for art in my school, other students were able to take free and sometimes private lesson at Harlem's Children Zone and Mind Builders via Multicultural Music Group. One student even took his hobby for playing handball and joined a prestigious team at his public college. These programs were all free and provided a release from the dull classroom where the only future seemed to be tied to textbooks and exams. Thus being involved opens you up to career options you might not have known existed.

We were able to find out about these programs because we did our research. We showed interest to the few caring teachers that wanted more for us and they were able to guide us to these programs. More importantly, we did a lot of our own online research. We googled colleges, choosing a major, gap year programs, scholarships, trade jobs, internships, fellowships and more. In this day and age, if you have access to the internet then you have access to the same resources as everyone else around the world. Take advantage of this fact and see what's out there for you.

Finally, remain motivated. Yes, the odds are stacked against you, but take advice from someone that has been there. The high school drama, bad teachers, lack of resources can all be counteracted if you properly pace and ready yourself for the future. Do not doubt your future due to the circumstances of your high school. It is a passing moment and you will eventually find your own path to success.