High school is a great opportunity that shouldn’t be wasted. Here are some ways to make the most of it and put yourself in a great position upon graduation.
1 – Work Hard
Don’t work on school nonstop, but get good grades. Really learn how to study and figure out what works for you. There’s not going to be a lot of hand holding in college and the really successful people in this world motivate themselves. Better grades = options.
2 – Participate
Put yourself out there. Join a sports team or student council. Most of the awesome memories I have from high school are the result of my running on the cross country and track team. Figure out what type of activities you really enjoy doing by checking out different teams, groups, and clubs.
3 – Get a job or start a business
Gaining employment is a great way to enhance the high school experience. There’s no doubt that having a social life costs money. Plus, with an income, you can start putting your money to work by saving for college and retirement. If you aren’t interested in having a typical retail job, try working for yourself. Most of us have a skill or two. Put ‘em to work. Try tutoring, computer repair, or giving instrument lessons.
4 – Save money
I haven’t done much of this. It’s also not something I suggest. I started my first real job during the summer after my sophomore year and blew all of my money. Do not do what I did. I could be in a much better position than I am right now if I had just saved 10-25% of every paycheck. Many seniors could have a savings account balance of few thousand by graduation if they consistently save throughout school
5 – Don’t let anything hold you back
Do not make any permanent decisions in high school. Don’t tell yourself “I can’t go to college because my parents are broke.” The trap of “I can’t because…” is extremely dangerous. Why can’t you travel the world? Why can’t you get a job you love? Never settle and never let high school experiences dictate your life.
6 – Commit yourself to a life free from consumer debt
Before you can even open a credit card account by yourself, make a vow to never carry any debt on it. This much easier to do before the card is burning a hole in your wallet. Promising yourself before you apply for a card will make it harder to break.
7 – Make connections with a few teachers
No one will like all of their teachers, but you should try to become close with a few. Developing a professional relationship over the years will help out a lot when it’s time for recommendation letters. Plus, you’ll have an older adult you can go to when you need some non-biased advice.
8 – Take AP courses
If your grades are up to par, look into taking advanced placement courses. You’ll have the opportunity at the end of the year to take an exam and earn college credit. This can help shave hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars off of college tuition.
9 – Think about life after high school
You don’t have to know 100% what you want to do, but at least give it some thought. Of course, it’s probably going to change a million times, but you can set some goals to achieve – until you decide to change them.
10 – Have fun
Don’t stay home alone every Saturday night doing calculus homework. Go out and have fun. On the flip side, don’t have too much fun. Failing grades aren’t going to start your future off on a positive note.
