High school is one of the most impactful times of a human’s life, and many people wonder how they can make it count. Most people regret not taking advantage of that time. Experts and students offer advice on how to get the most out of high school years.
“Make your time in high school count, don’t take advantage of [distracting] opportunities, and use your resources,” said Marist senior Emma Collias.
“Get involved and don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone,” said Marist counselor Jill McManus.
Getting out of your regular lifestyle is easier said than done. According to psychologist Dharam Singh, 98 percent of the population stays inside it, while only two percent gets outside of their comfort zone and tries new things.
“The one thing I regret from high school is not getting involved in clubs,” said Marist teacher Claire Kelly.
Marist has over forty clubs ranging from school to sports and even gaming. There’s a club for everyone.
“I am glad I got involved in sports and joined them as early as I did. Joining sports is a great way to meet friends,” said Collias.
Being involved can build friendships and life skills that go beyond high school.
“I met some of my best friends playing sports and getting involved at Marist,” said Collias.
Making high school count includes not only the social aspect but also the academic aspect.
“Make sure you turn your work in on time, because those late assignments add up. If you don’t turn in those assignments it will then drop your grade and impact your GPA,” said Kelly.
Marist has many academic resources any student can take advantage of. Some of these resources are math lab, reading lab, science lab, and NHS tutoring after school.
“Using your resources to boost academics can lead you to academic success,” said Collias.
Many high schoolers today don’t put enough effort into their grades and struggle tremendously.
“Make sure your taking all your classes seriously, and remembering every academic thing you do counts,” said Kelly
When it comes time to apply for college, these schools will look at your grades from all four years of high school. Every year, and every grade matters.
“My biggest regret in high school was not studying more rigorously for the SAT’s. I probably would’ve gotten into my dream college,” said blogger Valendia Lee.
What you study for and how you study can impact your life in the future. Once bad habits form it’s hard to let go and retrain your brain. What you do and how you spend your time in high school will impact your life going forward.
“Yes, high school is challenging and will be hard, but the good outweighs the bad,” said Collias.
“I’m glad I took advantage of the things Marist had to offer. Junior retreat, Kairos, and senior prom are some of the events I really enjoyed,” said Kelly.
You will never know how impactful something can be until you try it.
“Get involved, go to events, meet people, and build relationships that will last a lifetime,” said McManus.
