Second semester senior year has left me reflecting on many of my high school experiences, from classes I’ve taken to clubs I’ve joined. As a freshman, I really valued the advice that seniors gave me, and I wanted to leave underclassmen a few tips on how to make the most of high school!
- Join any club that sounds interesting to you
People always say to join a bunch of clubs, but it’s so true. Clubs are a great way to get to know people and get more involved in something you’re passionate about, so don’t be afraid to show up to meetings with your friends and eventually narrow it down to a few clubs you’re most interested in.
2. Find a teacher you can go to for help or letters of recommendation
You aren’t always going to vibe with all your teachers, but I think it’s super helpful to have at least one teacher in the building that you can connect with and go to for help and mentorship whenever you need it. It can also come in handy if you ever need a club advisor or letter of recommendation in the future!
3. Start meeting with your counselor
Many students don’t start meeting with their counselor until junior year, but I would recommend building a relationship with your counselor as soon as possible! They can give you a lot of useful information about anything from choosing classes to getting jobs, so feel free to use them as a resource.
4. Plan out your summers early
Summers are a great time to relax, but also an opportunity to do whatever you’ve been putting off the entire school year. Make sure to take time off, but also plan ahead with goals for the summer, whether that’s a summer camp, job, internship, sport, getting your license, or learning a new hobby!
5. Challenge yourself in your classes
Schoolwork is always a balance—you don’t want to spread yourself too thin with a bunch of difficult classes, but it’s also important to challenge yourself to learn new things. Find your sweet spot where you are able to handle your schoolwork but also learn to your fullest potential.
6. Prioritize your sleep
Getting enough sleep is typically not something high schoolers are good at, but it is honestly so crucial to staying healthy and happy. Sleep impacts so many parts of your life that it’s not worth sacrificing your sleep and always feeling tired to take harder classes or join more extracurriculars.
7. Take advantage of the drop period
Don’t be scared to drop a class if its costs outweigh the benefits! You have several weeks into the semester to drop a class without it showing up on your transcript, so if a class is taking up too much time and mental space, it’s not a big deal to just drop it.
8. Get a job
Not only will employment make you money, but it’ll also prepare you for adulthood. Getting a job in retail, fast food, or working with kids teaches you so many lessons that can’t be learned in a school setting.
9. Learn how to manage your finances
This is something I wish I would’ve done earlier; although it’s required to take a financial literacy class to graduate, AP Microeconomics also fills that requirement but doesn’t teach you much about managing your money. Set yourself up for success by learning how bank accounts, investing, and credit scores work early on.
10. Work smarter, not harder
Don’t waste your time on things that aren’t going to benefit you that much in the long term! Spend your time on what you care about and feel will pay off, and if doing the bare minimum on other things will allow you to focus on what matters most to you, find ways to work more efficiently and make the most of your time.
