To be honest, I wasn’t that worried when high school started. Perhaps I should have been. While I can say with complete certainty that I have no regrets about my last four years in government mandated education, there are tips and tricks I wish someone would have whispered in my ear. But alas, I am the eldest sibling and therefore had to figure out my own way.
For a freshman in high school, college is a faraway and intimidating institution. As it should be really, because the main purpose of high school is to wane students off of innate immaturity and form thoughtful and active young minds that are ready for an institute of higher education. Both extremes of taking on too much and too little are enticing. One shows—hey I don’t care about college. The other—nothing and no one matters more than getting in to the right school. I think balance is key. Yes, college is important and the role high school will play in securing you a spot at a good school can’t be replaced by anything else. On the other hand, life is about attitude. Most experiences, high school included, are a direct result of expectation and attitude. With the right mentality, high school is a stepping-stone towards the future, a stepping-stone large enough to allow room for personal growth. If you always feel like you’re floundering under the myriad of activities designed to impress college admissions officers, stress will unfortunately color your adolescent years. The laundry list of activities is only impressive if you can give your best to each item. It is more important to be truly passionate about a few things. It is also more satisfying. High school is the best time to dabble in the miscellaneous so that you may find out what truly interests you.
As a freshman and sophomore I joined lots of different things. I tried tech club, cross country running, honors classes, regular classes, art club, and maybe one or two other things. I stuck with my honors classes and art through out my Junior and Senior years. The many other memberships I held deferred to Art and my workload. It takes a lot of time and practice to become good at things. Sometimes it becomes necessary to pick a primary activity. By the time high school arrives most, future athletes (Pro and non) already have put in many hours. Budding writers and artists have usually begun their formative training, whether it is from a parent, book, or class. I discovered a lot during these years. At the moment, I wonder how I will change during college.
An open mind, serves one well in school. Though being resolute in opinions is comforting, this is the time to try new things. The range of experiences you may accrue in school largely depends on the diversity at your school. Exposing yourself to different lifestyles and ideas really strengthens your character and many times introduces a better way of living. New ideas must be treated with responsibility but in the end, the lessons you learn yourself tend to stick much longer than any parroted beliefs or ideals. High school is a time for trial and error.
Remember too that ultimately, time just passes. If you don’t make use of it, that’s okay. You don’t always have drain every last second of energy. It won’t be too long before you’re looking back over your days in high school, thinking of the ways you could have made it better and reminiscing over the memories.
