Another option is trade school. Trade schools teach students specific skills for jobs such as electrician, plumber, cosmetologist, and mechanic. These programs usually take less time than college and can be more affordable. Many trade careers are also in high demand, which can help students find jobs quickly after finishing their training.

Some students decide to join the military such as the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, or U.S. Air Force. The military offers job training, discipline, and help paying for college. It can also provide opportunities to travel, learn leadership skills, and gain valuable experience for future careers.

Most students choose to start working right after high school. They may get jobs to earn money and decide what they want to do in the future. Working after graduation can help students build responsibility, gain experience, and save money for future goals.

In addition to these options, some students may take a gap year to travel, volunteer, or focus on personal goals before deciding on a career path. Others may start their own businesses or pursue creative careers in areas like art, music, or social media.

No matter which path students choose, there are many opportunities for success after high school. The most important thing is to choose a path that matches your goals, interests, and strengths. With hard work and determination, students can build a successful future for themselves.

Managing your time: even if you don’t keep a step by step schedule, having a loose one can help you immensely by giving you an easy outlet that can balance your social and academic life all in one. 

Joining or keeping up with sports/clubs/activities: this is a great way to connect with new people and find something you are passionate about. I’ve noticed that with the amount of extracurriculars we offer at CHS, there is always something for everybody. If you are already in something, make sure you keep in contact with those people and make the most out of it!

Focusing on grades: be consistent with the work you do. Make sure that you work on keeping your GPA up and do the best you can. I know it can be hard, especially since schoolwork can feel heavier than expected in the beginning, but try your hardest!

Upcoming Freshman Advice

Going from middle school to high school can feel overwhelming and intimidating for some, but focus on yourself and remember that other people in your grade may be just as nervous as you, so don’t stress yourself out. 

Tips:

Make new friends: it may feel awkward at first, but there are always people open to making new friends too! There is a larger variety of students in high school so you never know who you may end up being close friends with.

Start joining clubs: I know I mentioned it before, but it is even more important in your freshman year. Joining clubs or sports early on will help you build stronger bonds with others and give you greater amounts of opportunities in the future.

Build your GPA: your first year is really important in creating a foundation for you getting the highest GPA possible for yourself. Even though you won’t get your GPA till later on, it is extremely important so that you don’t regret your decisions later on.

Don’t stress about how people view you: Everyone is different in their own way, you will find the people for you. Focus on yourself and keep in mind that nobody has everything all figured out.

Upcoming Sophomore Year

After last year, I hope you understand how things work by now and that eases you into sophomore year. This year is going to be harder than you expected, but don’t feel like you need to give up, push yourself to keep going. The first marking period might feel like it is consuming you (from personal experience), it is perfectly fine to feel that way, you will get used to the workload eventually.

Tips:

Academically push yourself: The amount of time that you spend working will be longer. Make sure you keep working hard. If you feel like you need some assistance, there are always teachers and friends available to help you, so feel free to reach out!

Narrow down your activities: After trying out a bunch of different clubs and sports, try shortening the list of things you do instead of just sticking with activities you don’t truly enjoy.

Start community service: I truly recommend you jot down and begin doing community activities so that if you plan on applying for any programs, you are one step ahead in your process. Don’t do events solely for the sake of community service hours, but if there is something that interests you and is worth your time, go for it!

Enjoy your social life: This is a great year for socializing with others and hanging out with friends. Make sure you make the most out of the year before things start getting serious next year!

Upcoming Junior Year

This year can and will be a lot. That doesn’t mean you have to feel miserable every second of the way through it. Like I mentioned, if you plan your time well, you can still have plenty of time to do the things you love. There is more testing and studying than the previous years, but working hard can make your time pay off!

Tips:

Prepare for testing earlier than you may think: If you get a head start on it all, you can feel at ease when it all comes flooding in. This way, you won’t feel the need to cram in last minute study sessions.

Take breaks: Whether that “break” for you is doing a hobby you enjoy or hanging out with friends, it is good to take your mind off of all the academics you have to focus on 24/7.

Don’t overwhelm yourself: Being the number 1 ranked student or doing a lot of activities is not your main priority. If you fall short of your expectations, it is okay, reflect and focus on what matters to you.

Don’t procrastinate: The biggest mistake is procrastination during your junior year. Everything can pile up quickly, so if you miss something, make sure to make it up as soon as possible and catch up otherwise you can fall behind in an instant. This is not meant to scare you, but it is a huge slip up people make during this year!

 Upcoming Senior Year

The final stretch! Everything goes by fast so enjoy your last moments of high school. Try not to fall into senioritis, not being able to graduate because of failed attendance would be a huge mistake! There are a lot of fun opportunities for seniors so take advantage of those! 

Tips:

 Deadlines and applications: Try to get those college applications in as soon as you can so you don’t start feeling like your personal statement wasn’t as good as it could’ve been or that you were rushing. Make sure you try getting as many scholarships as you can so that college will not be as big of a financial burden on you or your family.

Set up your future: 10 years may feel far from now but setting up some sort of timeline and discovering what you want your career to be is crucial for the years ahead.

Wrap up your high school experience: Make sure you get all your finishing credits done and any extra classes you may need. As I mentioned before, don’t let your GPA crash!

Make lasting memories: you won't get this time back so make sure you value it and don't take it for granted. Cherish the little things and spend this year having fun with the people you love!

To wrap this up, I would like to say that high school is not meant to be gloomy, you are meant to enjoy it! It can be hard, but so is everything else in life. There will be ups and downs, in the end, it's about the experiences you made and the people you meet along the way. Graduation is the final wave goodbye after growing and learning throughout all these years, moving onto your own distinct path. You don’t need to be perfectly ready, just bring in a strong mindset and the rest will follow.

Joseph Medwick Park in West Carteret is another awesome park to go to if you want more of a scenic view. It has an amazing sight of the Rahway River, and it has a scenic trail you can walk on to see the views of the river. It has a bunch of fields that you can play sports on, such as tennis, soccer, and baseball. If you are not a sporty person, you can always get a great glimpse of the river and have a barbecue.

For more striking views, Carteret Waterfront is an amazing place to have fun in Carteret. You can get a view of the Arthur Kill and go fishing there. You can play mini golf at the waterfront, and there are a lot of events and festivals happening during the summer, such as the Fourth of July festival and the Latin Fest. Those are the most popular events that are located on the waterfront. You can eat some good food while getting an amazing view of Staten Island, which is on the other side of the Arthur Kill.

Taking a break from nature and going into the arts, the Carteret Performing Arts Center is a small theater located near the waterfront and Carteret Park. It has about four to five shows during the summer, and you can hang out there to watch theatrical performances and concerts.

For food, we have many unique restaurants. One of the most famous is Alfredos, a small pizza restaurant that is right next to the performing arts center. It has some nice Italian food and is a perfect spot to hang with friends and family. Another amazing place is our recently opened Boba and Bites shop, which is a couple of blocks away from Carteret High School. It has some delicious food such as boba, ice cream, waffle fries, hot chocolate, and many more. It has such a good atmosphere, and it is such an amazing place to chill out and eat some good food. Another good spot is Bagel Factory, which is an extremely popular and well-known place in Carteret. It serves bagels, coffee, cakes, and many other fun treats. It gives off a quirky deli vibe from New York City, which makes it an even more comforting spot to eat food in Carteret.

Lastly, in Carteret there are a lot more fun and excellent spots to hang out, such as Chrome Park, which is a small park located on the far east side of Carteret; Frozen Flamingo, a small ice cream shop near the turnpike; the Carteret Public Library, a fine place to read books if you love to read; and many other hidden gems in Carteret.

So, even if you don’t have a car and you are a broke teenager who has nothing to do in Carteret, why not check out some of these extraordinary spots in the sweet small town of Carteret, New Jersey?

For teachers, it may seem different, but maybe not all the way. Teens may believe teachers spend their summer break planning the next school year, still working and maybe even teaching during summer school. But, it's not how it seems. Teachers spend their summer break almost the same as students, but as adults. They go hiking, fun summer camps such as ‘Curtains Up’ and or band camps, going on vacation to other states with their loved ones, going to the beach and sleeping in just like students do! Some teachers just enjoy staying home and some like summer jobs. It all depends on the person themselves.

After a long 9 months of work, tests and days full of stress, everyone deserves a break.Though students and teachers are two different groups of people, we all count down the same amount of days until summer break. Even though all of our lives are different, we all spend our fun and hot days in similar ways and all come back to school, awaiting another beautiful and clean fresh start! 

J

The Bus Stop Diner is truly the heart of Carteret. The friendly and attentive staff, affordable prices, and old-fashioned atmosphere make it feel warm, welcoming and just like home. I ordered the chocolate chip pancakes, which were around $10, and they were both sweet and delicious. The portions were generous, and the food came out fresh and quickly. The overall experience is always enjoyable because of the comforting environment and consistent service. I would rate the diner a 5/5 and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a classic hometown diner experience! 

Final review 

Bus Stop Diner has been a staple dining spot in Carteret for years, known for its welcoming energy, affordable prices, and great diner experience. The diner was very clean and well maintained, and the customer service was great. The friendly and attentive staff, comforting and old-fashioned atmosphere, and consistent service on top of the amazing food made the overall experience fantastic. Overall, Bus Stop was a 5/5 and we would definitely recommend checking it out!