When it comes to high school advice, there truly is no simple, catch-all guide because everyone’s experience is different, and each day brings new, unexpected challenges. However, as a senior, I have found that there are a few simple tips that, if followed, will make high school an enjoyable and successful time for everyone. Here are my top ten pieces of advice for, not only surviving, but thriving in high school:

Try everything, and don’t limit yourself.

Most high schoolers are not entirely sure what their passions are, so now is the perfect time to experiment with different interests and find what you enjoy doing. Even if you feel like you already have your future planned out, still be sure to try out new things that you’ve never done before because you don’t want to look back years later and think “I wish I had tried that.” Leave your comfort zone when it comes to clubs, activities, and classes because this is how you will discover new passions and grow as a person by pushing yourself to do things you’ve never done before. 

Talk to everyone, and meet new friends.

Don’t be afraid to reach out and make new friends. You don’t need to become best friends with everyone, but always be nice and friendly to everyone around you. Talk to new people simply by starting conversations with the people you sit beside in classes. Making friends with the people you sit by will not only make the class more enjoyable, but it will also give you a reliable group of peers to ask for help when you are out sick or didn’t understand something during a lesson. Make sure you help those around you in return, and if you see someone who needs a friend, be one to them because there is no worse feeling than being lonely even though you’re surrounded by a class full of people.

Find your niche.

Everyone needs somewhere to feel at home, and finding your niche will help you find that sense of belonging in high school. Try out different things until you find something you truly love, and with that will come a group of people with shared interests who you can bond with!

Take it day by day.

School can be stressful and overwhelming at times, and it often feels like everything is happening all at once. If you can train yourself to simply focus on one day at a time though, things will become much less stressful.

Learn how to prioritize and manage your time well.

Time management skills are essential to success in high school because you are going to be busier than you have ever been in your entire life. There will be days when you have more things to do than time to do them, so you must learn how to prioritize your tasks and activities to be sure you are doing what’s most important.

Participate and ask for help when you need it.

A great school hack that I have discovered is that time goes by faster when you are engaged in class. Participating in class also makes your time in school much more fun and rewarding. It’s important to remember that participating is not only answering questions but also asking questions, and I cannot stress enough how important it is for you to ask questions in class when you need help. 

Take care of yourself.

Since high school is so busy, it’s easy to ignore your personal needs, but forgetting to take care of yourself will catch up with you. Make time to have fun and relax when you need to, but also make sure you are staying safe and doing things that are good for your health. If you are physically or mentally unhealthy, sleep deprived, or hurt, your academic performance and overall quality of life will be negatively impacted, so prioritize self-care! 

Get involved with school events and spirit.

Attend sporting events, plays, musicals, concerts, volunteer activities, and any other events happening at school. Participate in spirit weeks and get excited about being a Cougar!

Live in the moment.

Make sure you enjoy the present and savor each moment before it becomes a memory. High school goes by extremely fast and does not last forever, and you only get to do high school once, so make the most of each day! It is easy to get caught up in thinking about your future, but you don’t want to look back years later and regret taking your high school years for granted.

Don’t compare yourself to others.

Comparing yourself to others is easy to do, but if you make a conscious effort to avoid doing it, you will end up happy and content with the things you are doing. Don’t worry about what other people will think if you need to ask a question in class or get extra help, and it’s okay if everyone seems to be understanding except for you because everyone learns at a different pace. Take classes because they are good fits for you, not because your friends are taking them. High school is the time to figure out your interests and strengths, and you can’t do that effectively if you’re constantly comparing yourself to others.

Hopefully this guide will help you have a fun and successful year here at AHS. Let us know if you have any other pieces of high school advice!