In a few months, a whole new sea of uncertain freshmen are going to turn the page and begin a different chapter in their lives. A transition stage, where seniors are escorted out with teary eyes and bittersweet smiles and freshmen are welcomed in with open arms and hopeful mindsets. These 5 steps will hopefully ensure a smoother transition for all incoming freshmen.
1 - Stay On Track.
I hear hindsight is always 20/20. Looking back as a junior, I wish I had in some way recorded everything I had done as a freshman. I am struggling to recall memories I made three years ago, let alone remember anything but tidbits and fragments here and there of my whereabouts and activities, meaning a solid amount of potentially college-impressing activities were flushed down the toilet. It’s so important to track and record specific details, like volunteer information and hours, or extracurricular activities, and where your focus goes outside of school. Colleges want details and, according to every single school I’ve ever toured, they want to know everything. Every seemingly unimportant part of your life in high school is important information and they are nosey as heck when it comes to getting to know you! So one of the best pieces of advice I can give you is to keep track of what you do. These are the things that make you stand out.
2 - Make Good Choices.
Something my mom says to me every morning when I walk out the front door. Now, whether this means staying in on a Friday night to do some extra studying for a test on Monday or deciding not to destroy your high school’s bathroom wall after it’s been freshly painted, it helps to make good choices. And, believe it or not, people will recognize and reward you for good decisions. Four choices I’d recommend include doing your homework, going to bed early, be respectful, and being trusting.
3 - Get Involved.
There are plenty of opportunities to become a bigger part of your school than by just being a student. Clubs, sports, and other extracurriculars can really help you branch out and experience more than just Marco Island. Volunteering or playing sports or participating in an activity you enjoy can enhance your perspective on high school and keep you happy. Getting involved in and around the community can strengthen bonds and create important connections that can bring you back home.
4 - Don’t Be Afraid
Ask your teachers for help. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that every teacher, administration member, and coach want you to succeed. Don’t refrain from reaching out because you’re afraid no one cares. In order to truly succeed, you need to open up and be yourself. Something’s bothering you? Talk to someone. Something urgent came up and you can’t get your homework finished by it’s Friday due date? Take five minutes and explain what’s going on to your teacher. Every employee and volunteer alike want you to have the best experience possible. Also, don’t be afraid to trust your teachers. They’ve done their very best to prepare you for tests, for college, and for life. Trust that the work they put you through and the hours they make you study are for good reasons and take it seriously. It’s worth it.
And, most important of all...
5 - Enjoy Yourself!
Life is all about trying to find the perfect balance of work and fun. If you spend all four years working, you’ll hate your high school years. If you spend all four years having fun and disregarding schoolwork, you’ll have a difficult time deciding what to do after high school. However, the so-called “perfect balance” is extremely difficult to find and, at some times feels impossible. I’m still discovering my own specific blend of motivation, hard work, and enjoyment. It’s hard to find a way to prevent overworking yourself and make sure you still get done what you need. But, overall, it’s most important to make your four years memorable and not wish your life away. If I can give you any piece of advice, it’s do what makes you happy.
Wishing you all nothing but the best on your new four year journey. GOOD LUCK!
I loved the Ron Swanson and Pip Boy inserts. (I'm a big fan of both.) Even though we didn't need to comment on this blog post I wanted to see what you had to say on this matter. Firstly I want to critique your actual writing. Your structure is well put together. I liked how you put section headers for each individual tip, which is something Scalia recommended I should've done with my post. However, it does seem you somewhat ignored the fact that this is supposed to be an article in a newspaper. Not to be rude but there isn't anything in here that hints to the fact that you wrote it for such a medium. Now that I'm done talking about your writing let's talk content. I thought the shade you threw in tip number 2 was funny but also not funny at the same time. I also wanted to add that when you say "it's hard to find a way to prevent overworking yourself" it's pretty obvious you're talking about me. I know I do my homework almost immediately when I get home and you always have to tell me to stop working. I appreciate you talking about me but I would like you to ask me next time if it's ok. But all in all I liked the post. Your images and .gifs were really nice too.
ReplyDeleteAlso I just realized that the glasses you used are the same glasses I wear. Stop talking about me so much.
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