High school may be overwhelming at first, a rollercoaster some might say as it comes to an end, and no one knows the ride better than seniors. From social guidance to academic tips, seniors offer their insight, expressing pieces of advice they wish they acquired when starting high school.
Balancing academics along with extracurriculars or procrastination may come to pass as one of the biggest adjustments for freshmen. Time management and staying organized is key. Utilize resources such as a planner, or even the Notes app on your phone in order to keep track of deadlines and plan ahead. Many seniors expressed that finding how to manage your time wisely and using a consistent study schedule helped them to obtain better grades and to become less stressed when assignments begin to pile up throughout the school year. Effective time management simply creates healthy habits that one may use even post-graduation. Balancing schoolwork and extracurriculars requires discipline, but doing so allows both areas to thrive.
At the start, high school may feel socially intimidating – finding your people may take a while, but friendships come with time. Senior Laila Sweeney strongly recommends “joining a club that you’re really interested in or even sports because there can be so many opportunities to meet people with common interests.” Many freshmen coming into high school assume it’s much like High School Musical, where there’s cliques and the stereotypical popular kids versus the rest, however high school is filled with a huge group of different people coming from many different backgrounds. Gossip and drama may come and go, but distract from priorities that truly matter. Instead of worrying about popularity, focus on creating authentic relationships.
Healthy habits built now pay off in the future, as well as creating numerous opportunities for success in time ahead. Senior Bryson Nance shares that his biggest lesson learned during his high school years “is that hard work truly does pay off. It may not seem worth it freshman year but once you become a senior you realize how important it is to put in the work early so that you can get scholarships, open periods, etc.” Starting strong usually takes more effort, but consistent habits reduce stress in the long run, frees up your time, and ultimately builds a strong sense of accomplishment graduating senior year.
Patience becomes essential when navigating the overwhelming experience of high school. Whether finding friends, personal interests, or staying on top of schoolwork, every single experience defines the high school adventure. Let the advice from past students serve as a guide, and remember that with patience and effort, everything comes along the way. Senior Tori Pineda reflects “In your senior year, you’ll look back and you’ll think wow.. Maybe I should’ve done all that [clubs, activities, and extracurriculars]. To Pineda’s point, time flies fast, so make the most of the years in high school because a lifetime of memories can be created in four years.
