1. Ask yourself and your friends 1 thought-provoking question a day for 365 days

Use this list of questions for inspiration: 365 Deep & Thought Provoking Questions to Ask Yourself (& Others) (bucketlistjourney.net) 

2. Learn Another Language

Did you know that certain words only exist in some languages, like "Torschlusspanik" in German does not really have the English-equivalent to explain the meaning!?

As our world becomes more interconnected, it’s always good to learn another language or two. You can sign up for foreign language classes at language schools, NUS or community centres! If you want more self-paced learning, apps like Duolingo or Drops are free to download and use. When you speak another language, you learn to better appreciate how people from another part of the world think and lead their lifestyles.

3. Experience Another Culture

Culture and tradition are something that all humans share. You can go to a museum, read a book, perhaps try a new cuisine in your area or read these 25 ways to experience different cultures from home! Remember to keep an open mind and take the time to learn about them. 

4. Do Something For The Environment

Being a student is demanding, and it can sometimes be hard to carve out time to be environmentally conscious. However, you don’t have to change your entire lifestyle to make an impact!

Recycling your papers, saving water and electricity, and using eco-friendly bags are some things you can do to help the environment. You can also participate in tree-planting activities in your local community. A small change can grow to something big when brought together.

5. Join a Contest

Not only do you get to hone your existing skills, you may develop new ones. Just search online for any kind of contest you like (writing, science, art, sports etc) either local or international, choose those that do not require entry fees, and take part in most of them without the need to step out from the comfort of your home! Who knows, you may even win prizes for trying! Learn and discover what your skills and interests might be. You might uncover a talent for something that you never knew you had in you!

6. Explore Your Career Options

Having experience working a job would give you a clearer idea of what career path to pursue while still in high school. There is never a shortage of fun jobs to do! Just look around your neighborhood or any local shops to see if they have part-time work for high school students. You can also look online for jobs such as tutoring, blog writing, or graphic designing, to name a few. 

Try doing different activities, especially the ones that you haven’t tried before, such as joining online career talks organised by the respective industries, the National Youth Council or Institutes of Higher Learning. Find out whether a particular occupation or field of work excites you!

7. Go on a College Visit

No matter whether you have decided to go to JC or to poly, visit both kinds of institutions! Find out which environment would fit you better instead of just hearing about them from others. While you're at it, why not visit a university along the way as well? Since you’ll be spending the next few years in those schools, it’s better to get to know the lay of the land early!

Talk with professors and other students, check out clubs you might be interested in, and other perks the institution(s) has to offer. This will help you decide if that college is the right fit for you and your goals. 

8. Help at a Fundraiser

Check out your local neighborhood for any fundraisers, especially charities or religious organisations. There are lots of different ways to help them in their fundraising campaign, including spreading the word on social media or asking your friends if they can lend a hand. You will learn new skills that are not taught in school!

You can also talk to the charity/religious organisation and ask if you can host or organize a fundraiser for them like fun runs, a fundraising concert, or even selling merchandise like t-shirts!

9. Volunteer!

Helping others can be rewarding for some people, even if they are not expecting anything in return. Doing volunteer work in a cause that you support gives you that sense of purpose and accomplishment. It also makes you more aware of the issues people are dealing with in their daily lives. You can also experience situations that you will not encounter at home or in school. 

OECD study revealed a strong connection between teenage volunteering and long-term career benefits: Volunteering: The pathway to personal growth and career success – OECD Education and Skills Today 

You can search online for charities in Singapore for their volunteering opportunities or use collated portals such as Giving.sg and Volunteer.gov.sg which include a range of participating agencies.

10. Write a Letter To Your Future Self (づ◔⌣◔)づ🔭

This might look like a childish thing to do, but I can guarantee that it’s not! Reading the letter written by your old self will remind you of the things that have changed since then. It can be your expectations of the future, your goals and your dreams, and if you are still aligned with those. Research has shown that putting plans onto paper will motivate you to take actions towards your goals.

Need more convincing? You can check out: How (and Why) to Write a Letter to Your Future Self.

Adapted from High School Bucket List: 50 Fun Things to Do (bucketlistjourney.net)