REAL Advice to Remember
During Your Last Years of High School
The last few weeks, we’ve discussed the serious stuff: preparing for the SAT, getting a summer job, CommonApp prompts, understanding the ACT, and so on. Those blogs were filled with great information, if we do say so ourselves… but it’s also important that you don’t waste away your last years of high school constantly worrying about college apps, tests, and plans. In this Huffington Post article, recent grads dished on what juniors and seniors should remember during this crazy time. It’s a good read, and there are a few pieces of high school advice that we wanted to share and discuss.
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Breathe, and remember one thing at a time.
You want to nail the SAT so that you can prepare a great college application, which you need to get into the elite schools you’re applying to, which you must attend in order to get the dream job you’ve always wanted, which is basically the only way you can have a happy and fulfilling life. Right? SLOW DOWN! That way of thinking is a surefire way to put yourself in panic mode. Key high school advice: focus on one thing at a time. You cannot go crazy worrying about the future, so instead just put your energy into what you can do today to get you closer to your ultimate goals.
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College admissions counselors aren’t always the bad guys.
You got rejected from a school you loved. You got accepted into a school you feel lukewarm about. Guess what? Maybe that’s meant to be! College admissions counselors actually know their schools better than you do, and they focus on bringing students to their campuses that will be good matches for them. It doesn’t mean you failed or that you aren’t good enough. You might unknowingly be the ideal student for another school, so don’t be upset if you have to start exploring Plan B, C, or Z.
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Trust your instincts.
Graduating from high school is a huge milestone. You may be leaving the nest for the very first time, and you’re embarking on a new journey that is unique to you. That being said, don’t lose sight of your own desires, and trust your gut. Some of the best high school advice I got was this: you don’t have to attend the same university as your best friend, and you don’t have to choose the same major as your older sibling! Don’t be afraid to do a little soul-searching and think about what you really want.
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Make time for good people and good things.
There’s a lot going on during your final years of high school. Your schedule might be packed with studying or an after school job, or maybe you’re picking up volunteer work to add to your resume. Maybe, just maybe, your senioritis has kicked in and you spend your free time napping and watching reality TV. All of those things are important (yes, even the last two), but it’s equally important to make the most of this time. For most of you, you won’t be able to have weeknight dinners with your parents. You won’t be able to get Starbucks and catch up with your childhood friends. You probably won’t be able to eat at your favorite hometown restaurants and attend cheesy local events. Make time for these things! There will always be time to study and nap.
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Comparing yourself to others is a recipe for disaster.
This might be the hardest but most important bit of high school advice. It doesn’t matter what your classmate got on their final or what your sibling got on their ACT. It doesn’t matter if your best friend got into their first choice school and you got rejected. You probably won’t even remember any of those things in a couple of years! The coolest thing about leaving high school is seeing everyone you know take a different and amazing path. There is no point to compare yourself to anyone, because your story is going to be beautifully unique.
