Be a Successful High School Student

Being a successful high school student requires both patience and motivation. Unfortunately, there are often many distractions during your teen years that can make success difficult. To become a successful student, you'll have to learn to say "no" to these distractions by using organization tools like schedules, while also maintaining a healthy lifestyle, as well as balancing your academic life with your social life and extracurricular interests. It may be hard during the school year, and also tiring, but the hard work always pays off at the end.

Steps

  1. Make good use of your agenda. They give it to you for a reason. Don't only write homework, but make sure to write down other stuff you'll need to remember (like games, practices, study sessions, etc). In order to be a successful high school student, you need to have the ability to stay on top of all your activities. Use your agenda to stay organized and follow through with your plans. Also, use your agenda to set time limits. If you're spending more than an hour on that math assignment, you're clearly not getting it, and are only hurting yourself. Stop, put it aside, move on to other homework. Come back to it later and if you still don't get it, explain what happened to your teacher. Chances are, they'll be happy to help and not dock your grade. Just make sure you've made an attempt to do the work.
  2. Stay organized. Make sure you have all the supplies you need. It may help to have one 3-ring binder with pockets for each class (maybe only a folder for an elective class) with loose-leaf paper and dividers if they help. If your teacher likes to lecture, have a spiral or composition notebook for notes and jot down pictures and thoughts to help you remember- the pages are less likely to rip out than loose-leaf. Keep papers in chronological order- they'll be easier to find later when studying. If your binder starts to get full, transfer old papers into another binder to keep at home. This way you won't have to lug them around, but they will be there when studying for midterms and finals.
  3. School is important. You don't have to be the nerd who holes himself/herself up in his/her bedroom Friday night or reads gigantic books in the corner of the room to be considered someone who takes school seriously. The truth is, school is important. You need it to have a good resume, and you need it to get into a good college and later get a good career that will support you for the rest of your life, but even though you decide not to go to college, school does help a lot. Social wise and intellectually. It's important to have fun and have lots of extra-curricular activities, but school should always be your number one priority. That being said, never take homework, tests, and quizzes lightly! Note that extra-curricular activities are also good with college resumes as well.
  4. School is important, but so is a social life. Balance is the key. You can be someone who makes straight A's in all advanced classes, but if you have zero extra-curricular activities in your application for college, you will have a much more difficult time getting accepted. It's just not attractive either way. Keep on top of your schoolwork but make sure you let your hair down a little sometimes to join a few clubs consistently throughout your high school years. You won't regret it.
  5. Get involved at your school. You don't have to wear spirit colors everyday or be a cheerleader to do this. All you need to do is to stay on top of things- current events, who won the basketball game last Friday, attending school functions like dances and variety shows, keeping up with plans your student council has for the school, etc. Just like keeping up with current events and politics is important, so is being active at your campus. Not only will it bond you with other people, but it's always good to have a collective unity over a student body. It shows that you care about the learning environment that you're in that you support all the organizations at your school.
  6. Join a sport. It's easy to forget to stay in shape when the workload starts piling up, so joining a team at your school makes it one less worry in your schedule; it's already incorporated in your daily routine. If you're going for all three seasons, that's great, but make sure you're being reasonable. If you're taking all honors classes, for example, and you know you're going to have a heck of a lot of homework, you may want to consider taking a season off. Try your hardest at both your sport and your schoolwork and you should be more than great- you're healthy and on top of your schoolwork.
  7. Figure out what your hobbies are and find a club that matches that. Not being an athlete is no excuse for not having something to do after school. If you're into art, join the art club. Music, and join the orchestra or a band. Join something and be sure to stick with it for a long time; it looks good on college applications. If you're not into any of your school's clubs, ask your principal to start a new one. Most likely he/she will say yes and it's just one quick and easy process into a initiating a new activity at your school.
  8. Care about University . As soon as sophomore year, start visiting universities. You don't need to decide anything yet, but it will help you decide if you want a large school or small (urban, rural, or suburban, if a state school is an acceptable choice, and so on). Visit your guidance counselor a lot- they're going to have to write a letter of recommendation so the better they know you, the better a letter you'll get. They'll also be able to help recommend universities and find scholarships.
  9. Care about your Grade Point Average. Your GPA is as important to you as your parents credit score is to them. A low credit score prevents your parent from being able to get a loan, rent an apartment, get a credit card, get a cell phone and on and on. Your parents credit score is their lifeline. It opens doors and closes doors. Your GPA is your lifeline! With a high GPA many options are available after graduation. You will have many choices regarding which colleges you can attend. A low GPA limits your options. There is a program out there for everyone but having a choice makes the walk across the stage a sweet victory!
  10. Make friends with everyone. There's too much going on to worry about cliques, who's friends with whom, who the popular people are, etc. The best thing to do is to just be friends with everyone. Be confident and be yourself. Get into the habit of saying hi to people and not being afraid to talk to new classmates. The more comfortable you become with a more diverse group of people, the more people will like you and the more you will accustom yourself to the art of versatility later in life.
  11. Don't compare yourself with others. It cannot be stressed enough that there's already too much on your plate to worry about trivial stuff like this. High school is only a competition with yourself. Everyday you should only be trying to get better, not worrying about how the girl sitting in front of you has nicer clothes, is getting better grades, has a hotter boyfriend, etc. Ten years from now, this won't matter. Focus on yourself. Focus on what you can do to make yourself better. Then, most importantly, go for it!
  12. Don't procrastinate. This is probably the #1 curse of all high school students. It's hard and it's okay if you do it every once in a while. But when big tests, exams, and essays come, don't make it a habit. You'll only be sorry in the end, especially in college with jumbo papers and insane amounts of reading will become the norm. It's best to accustom yourself to getting things done early and out of the way rather than waiting until the very last minute.Make a plan and a list of homework. Keep it somewhere you can see it and won't forget it. Don't forget due dates!
  13. Eat breakfast and lunch. It sounds stupid, but you'd be surprised how many people skip breakfast or lunch. Not only is this dumb, but it's uncool and unhealthy. First of all, waffles are yummy. If you don't have time to eat breakfast at home, take some to the bus stop or buy some at your cafeteria before the first period. It's important to jumpstart your metabolism the right way so it's running smoothly throughout the whole day. Lunch is important to prevent your stomach from grumbling during your last periods. A full stomach keeps you focused. Skipping meals actually only slows down your metabolism and makes you gain more weight, not less.
  14. Stay healthy both inside and outside of school. Don't fall for the vending machine trap. Most of the food in there is just unhealthy and disgusting. Go for the soy chips or anything whole grain if the vending machine is all you have the moment. Don't fall for the Vitamin Water trap either- it's loaded with sugar. Only if you're a competitive athlete and will be burning off those 400+ calories pretty soon should you pay for that jumbo pack of gummy bears or something.
    • At home, take an after-school snack to keep your belly full until dinner time--invest in fruits, nuts, and healthy chips. Loading on junk food during the day is not only unhealthy but will only give you a temporary "energy" for homework or that 10-page paper you have to write tonight.
  15. Get enough sleep. This is easier said than done, but sleep has so many benefits. If every high school kid got around 8-9 hours like they should, everyone would be a much happier camper. Try to get things done and out of the way so that you get your much needed shuteye. Not only will you be more alert during the day, but it helps improve your complexion and your figure, and you'll be much more likely to pay attention in your boring classes and, as a result, ace them. Of course, this is not always possible, especially in the dreaded junior year. If you're taking 3+ AP's and are in all those clubs and sports, there are chances you will be up until 1 AM doing homework - if that happens, skip clubs/sports the next day and nap! You are no good to anyone when you are severely sleep deprived. Naps are wonderful things. Also, caffeine can help you keep focused - but there are potential side effects, and addiction can hurt you in the short and long term . Try to use the stimulant in moderate amounts and only when absolutely necessary e.g. an important test.
  16. The only trend you should follow is yourself. This doesn't mean you should then go to school the next day wearing pantyhose on your head, or whatever. You should have your own style and your own identity, so that you make your mark in high school the right way and not as a nondescript UGG-wearing replica of every other girl (or guy) out there. Be original, and don't be afraid to be yourself. It's a cliché, but it's essential. People are more likely to remember you and want to be friends with you if you are intriguing and different.
  17. Try to go out during the weekends. You endured 5 agonizing days of school, and the time has come to cut yourself some slack. During the weekend, if you have friends to go with, go somewhere fun and have a blast. Even if you don't have many friends, spend the weekend relaxing and doing what you like to do. Let yourself loose and energize yourself so when Monday comes, you're all partied out and ready to focus again. But remember that school is the top priority, so don't do this if you have a ton of homework this weekend.
  18. Never give up. Again, cliché, but important. High school is all about making a fool of yourself but picking yourself back up, trying again, and making friends along the way. Learn to laugh at yourself when you make a mistake. Don't beat yourself up over the occasional C or D (heaven forbid an F) on a test or quiz. Tell yourself to study harder and strive for an A the next time. If your team lost a game, tell yourself to push yourself a little harder at the next practice. Learning this will soon apply outside of school and into other parts of your fantastic life. Learn from your mistakes and you will go a long way. Just remember, no one is perfect.

Tips

  • If you are looking to get over procrastination, here's a trick. The hardest part of getting things done is starting. Force yourself to begin your homework/studying without thinking, and do that for at least fifteen minutes. You'll discover that you have trained your mind into the schoolwork-gear and you will be switched into that mindset. By then, you'll be so absorbed into your work that you'll forget about your fifteen minutes!
  • Stay away from the drama and gossip. You have far too much more important stuff in your agenda to worry about that.
  • Remember that organization, and high school in general, is a learning process. Consider yourself a work-in-progress. As you discover yourself, you will also discover methods and habits that will stick throughout your life. Don't be afraid to work through trial and error, and take risks. You'll be glad you did it.
  • Learn to befriend your teachers. This will definitely make things easier for you in the future, when you are applying to colleges and need recommendations.
  • Even if you are a shy person, try to make at least a couple of friends, so you have someone to talk to and someone who will have your back in a tough situation. It helps to join clubs that interest you and you can demonstrate those hobbies that make you shine. You will be surprised at how you will attract people like a magnet.
  • If you're struggling to keep up with your homework load, tell your teachers. Don't be afraid to ask for an extension or extra help before/after school, or during lunch or a free period. They are there to help you. Besides, the worst they can do is say no.
  • When you feel like giving up, just think of what college you want to get into. Think about an Ivy Leagues school, perhaps Harvard, Yale, Princeton, etc. If you have this mindset, you will go a long way!
  • Different students prefer different methods of organization. Some teachers do not force a lot of notes on you, and others may force you to take 3 pages of notes every day. Some students are better at staying organized than others. Pay attention to your individual needs. If you are a student who is super organized, have the majority of teachers not forcing too many notes on you (1 page of notes a day), and are willing to empty out your binder into a bigger binder at home time to time, you may prefer having only one large three ring binder for all your classes and have only one section per class. This can help you keep a lighter load in your backpack. If you are a student who is very disorganized, have teachers who require you to keep many sections per class (or you just prefer to have several sections), and have teachers who make you take many notes per day, it's best for you to keep a separate binder for each major class (math, history, science, English, language class), and a large one for minor outside classes. For most students who are in between, carry a morning and afternoon binder with 1-2 sections per class, depending on the number of notes and importance of the class.
  • Getting involved in a romantic relationship is purely optional. You should never feel a need to hook up with someone just because everyone else is. You still have so many years ahead of you, so why not make good use of your high school years to focus on schoolwork and then get into a good college? However, don't be afraid of dating either - a steady boyfriend/girlfriend can be one of the best antidepressants there is!
  • Skipping a day, although not recommended, can be done occasionally, but remember this is an extreme measure, and not something to be done regularly. It is more for those students in three clubs, a sport, and taking 3-4 AP classes. If you feel yourself heading towards burnout ask your parents if you can stay home for a day - do not do this unless you have permission. Make sure there are no tests or important deadlines on the day you choose to skip. If you have online calendars with assignments, do that night's homework to stay on top of things - otherwise there will be no point to taking a day off!
  • Be nice to the teachers. You don't want them hating you!

Warnings

  • Don't overwork yourself, if you do then your grades will begin to slip and the opposite of what you want to happen will happen.
  • Don't worry about bullies, they aren't cool. They try to be, but they're not! You have more important priorities in your life to worry about, and it is not constructive to surround yourself with negative people. Try to avoid bullies as best as you can, and surround yourself with the positive people in your life, like your friends, to scare bullies away.

Things You'll Need

  • Agenda
  • School supplies

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