To get through high school, the most important thing is to stay focused
on your goals. High school is a very stressful and emotional time for lots of
teenagers. The stress comes from others and yourself expecting more from you
than you’ve ever had to perform before. The emotions come from a need to get
along with and connect with your peers and this usually involves making choices
that are difficult by staying focused on your goals (i.e. good grades for
potential scholarships, extracurricular activities like PHRED, saving money for
a car, etc.) you will have a better chance of persevering through the stresses
and emotional pressures. Find ways to remind yourself of your goals daily.
Explore your interests, stay
open minded to the various and multitude of opportunities that present
themselves. Throughout high school you will meet an even more diverse group of
people, I hope. You will also be introduced to new areas of interest that you
would have thought of before. Be willing to try new things. Be willing to stretch
your comfort zone. As uncomfortable as they may be, coupled with the stresses
of your academics you will learn more about yourself and about the life you
want to lead if you don’t close yourself off for fear of judgment from your
peers. Most of the people you will know in high school you may never see again
(except at reunions, if you go), so remembering that you are developing who you
want to be versus who you want to please can help minimize the anxieties you
may experience during your high school years.
High school presents a time in
your life where you will be expanding your independence, practicing the art of effective
decision making, and learning the skills you will need to effectively manage
and excel in your life. If you can do so without compromising your grades, you
should try to find a part time job. Not only will you learn and understand a
good work ethic making your own money offers some freedom of choice you have
never experienced before. Use all of this to advance your wisdom and to learn
to trust yourself.

