When adults are asked to point out the happiest, or the most carefree time of their life, they usually state their high school or their university life.
However, this is not convincible to those currently living in those times of their life. Current high school students live their days full of academic and social stress, which highly contradicts to the past high school’s fun and joy. Not even trying to create fun such as before, but at least to survive in schools, one should look out for these aspects and see if one can do anything else to live a less stressful high school life.
1. Get involved with co-curricular activities.
Most high schools, including UNIS, provide variety of ASAs. Getting into an activity that one can enjoy can be a way to get away from the scholastic stress and to really enjoy the time at school. Also, co-curricular activities are one way to make new friends, from variety of backgrounds and groups.
2. Make friends in diverse groups.
As mentioned before, making friends are very important in any society, but especially in schools. One should have friends; not only meaning best friends but friends whom can help one be knowledgeable and challenging in variety of aspects. Having a friend in other grades can open up oneself on gaining information of what is going around in school.
3. Seek help from counselors and teachers.
As all schools say, “counselors are always here for you.” Well, this is actually true. As grade levels go up, more would one be associated with counselors and teachers – they are not just for help in scholastic subjects but also to guide one in future and to plan it out together with one.
4. Use the school time efficiently.
Academics, one of the important aspects of school, are to be helped most in class times. When teachers give school time to finish up an assignment, use this time to question and ask unsure things or any trouble one had during studies at home. Be sure to prepare this and be fully clear on the job!
5. Organize and manage time effectively.
In other words, do not procrastinate. Work tends to pile up, and without any organization of this, one would truly not be able to survive through high school. In addition, keep working. Even if there are a few free days, do the work beforehand, as no one knows what other work may come up. Be aware of this especially before report season!
6. Ask the seniors.
Seniors are the oldest and the most experienced students of the school and can be the great resources to one! One can ask them about academic work, variety of tests, about the teachers, and about universities. They can guide, help, and even provide information very easily to younger students. Remember the tip #2 “Make friends in diverse groups” – the seniors are the key!
7. Get to know the teachers.
Knowing one’s teachers can be one of the tickets to success in high school. By knowing the characteristics and personalities of teachers – one can easily estimate on the “type” of work that one should produce. Also, teachers can be of guidance to one’s queries about the real world outside high school, as well as supporting one on non-academic projects.
8. Check the school website frequently.
Schools usually have a dashboard or a website where they update new information or classes the school provides. This information can be a real help on what is going around in school; UNIS has the homeroom announcement page, The Flame student newspaper site, as well as the Tin Tuc, not to mention all the new blogs – so look out for new information!
9. Explore universities and plan out the future.
High school is a time to prepare for university – thus it is crucial to look into universities and majors that one wishes to take. Look out for college fairs or visits and keep an update of how one can get accepted into a certain college. Talk to the counselor or any subject teachers for success in studies and do maintain high grades if possible.
10. Be yourself.
Be confident, be assured, and smile (: You know your way out of here now.
tanesha • Apr 7, 2016 at 10:46 pm
I find the advice very helpful because I am just starting high school