Before we begin, allow me to explain my credentails and qualifications in order to establish myself as a reasonable advisor. I am a graduate of the class of 2009 out of Fox Chapel Area High School in Pittsburgh, PA. On my SAT's, I earned a 1500/1600 and a 2200/2400 while maintaining a 3.98 non-weighted GPA through my four years. I graduated at the top of my class and was recognized as a Top Scholar. Next year I will pursue an English major at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. I hope that these accomplishments will prove myself to you as a diligent student who can offer some valuable advice.
Welcome to Nateology 101- Lesson 1: Keys to Success in High School. This lesson is as important as any lesson for a high school student. It will outline a few points that must be recognized as "Golden Rules" in a students attempt towards success in high school.
Point 1: Time Management
For me, the best thing to do in high school was to keep my plate full at all times. The busier I stayed, the more productive I was. I found that on semesters that I was not participating in a sport or a club, my grades would slip. I would sit at home and watch TV instead of doing my work. In turn, I was going to bed later and sleeping during class. And worst of all, my grades were proof of my procrastination. Eventually, I managed to pull myself together and I got back on the road towards success; however, it was harder and took even more work than neccessary because I had dug myself into such a deep hole. I learned my lesson- I needed to keep busy to do well.
Yet, staying busy all the time isn't the answer for all students. Everyone is different and maintains different lives. Of course, there are a few things which time management pertains to that all must abide by, no matter what, if they want to work towards success.
The first is sleep. Sleep deprivation is the number downfall of high school students. Now that is in the classroom, on the athletic field, and even at home. Sleep management is vital not only to doing well in school, but it will help one do well in life.
The second is fun. Students must allot a reasonable amount of time everyday to enjoy life. That might be going for a run, walking the dog, playing video games with a friend, or catching a movie. Whatever it is that makes on happy, do it. Don't overdo it, but do it so that one can enjoy everyday. Don't feel like you are a slave to your school work. Feel like you have to work hard to play hard.
Now, the third and final thing time management tool that all must abide by is haste. A good student is a diligent student. I can't stress how important it is to get one's work done on time. Nobody wants to be up at midnight working on a paper or a project. The second I get home, I would do my work. That way it is out of the way and I don't have that burden hanging over my head. I can enjoy the rest of the day and get my sleep. Of course, it may seem cool to be a procrastinator to some, but it's not. I can remember how people would come up to me and say "I threw this paper together in an hour at like one in the morning. Hahah." I would not laugh with them. I might laugh at them, but I pity them for the little sleep they get and the poor grades that go along with their unhealthy lifestyle choice.
I hope I have made the importance of time management clear and I hope I have inspired at least one of you to make a good choice by valuing your time. Time management is one key to success in high school.
Point 2: Take on a Challenging Course Load
The famous question at my high school was always, "What is considered better by colleges: a B in an AP class or an A in an accellerated or academic class?"
Well, I can't say I know the definite answer, but what I do know is the importance in challenging yourself in high school while maintaining a certain balance.
Unfortunately, attaining this balance when scheduling classes can be very difficult. There is no formula for how many AP classes a student must take to get into a certain school. The only thing a student can do is to anticipate one’s own ability and willingness to do well in difficult classes. I do have two things I would like to suggest, for they worked for me.
The first suggestion is to fear not. Don’t be intimidated by a heavy course load or a difficult class. Instead, challenge yourself and show that you have the guts or “kahunas” that another student might not have. Remember that you are competing against everyone around you, so take advantage of every opportunity to make yourself a little bit more appealing than your neighbor. When you’re selecting your classes, don’t consider a difficult course as a risk- consider it an opportunity. And do whatever it takes to take advantage of that opportunity.
The second suggestion is to use previous years as a model for what you are capable of. If last year, you earned a B in three accelerated courses, an A in one accelerated course, and A’s in the rest of your classes, then maybe you should take one less accelerated course in order to raise your GPA. Being able to anticipate what you can handle is the most important thing you can do when selecting courses. The goal is always the same: earn the highest possible GPA that you can. In order to do that, one must take as many difficult classes as one can do well in.
Colleges want to see two qualities in students. The first is the ability to do well. A high mental capacity and strong work ethic must go hand-in-hand for any candidate who wishes to attend an elite university. The second is willingness to challenge oneself. Nothing is less flattering than a student who maintained a 4.0 GPA but never took anything above an academic course. Some schools, but not the upper echelon of schools will select that student as a member of their student body. So when choosing classes for next year, remember one thing: challenge yourself while anticipating your ability to do well in all of the classes you choose.
Point 3: Study Skills
My final point is simple and will be short. Study skills set you above the rest. I was always told, “When it comes to studying, either you have it or you don’t.” However, that is not true. That statement needs to be rephrased. My version is better: “When it comes to studying, either you want it or you don’t.” Anybody can study and study well, but it is those who desire to do well that set themselves above the rest.
Let me be clear on my point. Anybody can take notes for every chapter he or she reads and then refer to those notes over and over again before every test, but not everybody does that. The students who do are the ones who do well in class after class.
There is no secret to success in school. Study hard all the time. Never let up, no matter what. And do what it takes to get the grade you want. If you do that, then you will surely succeed.
This concludes Nateology 101- Lesson 1: Keys to Success in High School. I hope that every student who reads my work does so with an open mind, and I hope that I have opened the eyes to at least one student who will do what it takes to succeed in high school.
N. R. R.
