Properly managing one’s time is a crucial skill to have, acting as the building blocks for one’s full potential. A blog from the Purdue University Global shares some tips and tricks that college students use to manage their time. From creating goals and making plans to wisely using breaks, there are many ways one can learn to manage their time.

An article from the Allison Academy says that properly managing your time helps develop a sense of responsibility and creates more time for recreational activities. On the other hand, poor time management can lead to tardiness, earning you a bad reputation, and causing a potential decline in your work. It’s important to make realistic goals, and reward yourself when you reach them. Doing so can increase your work ethic. As with all skills, time management will take dedication to become as efficient as possible.

This is what colleges and academies classify as good time management. Let's bring it back to Mount Vernon High School and see what the students here do to manage their time.

Sarah Long said that her way of managing time is to do all her assignments and work during school hours. If there is anything that doesn’t get done in school, she said there is not much chance of her doing it afterwards. She confessed that she struggles with procrastination, but she thinks it is important to manage your time well. If you don’t, it can increase stress. For example, forgetting to do an assignment until ten minutes before class starts is a stressful situation that could have been avoided if priorities had been altered.

Another student believes they are very productive with their time. One tip they have is write things down so you don’t forget anything, and make a to-do list everyday. Willpower and sometimes forcing yourself to do things is what you need to do in order to fulfill your responsibilities. It is also important to know your limits and the amount of work you can handle. Prioritizing your mental health sometimes means letting go of a few activities. If this is the case, make sure to communicate with the people in authority and let them know if you need to drop something. You never want to leave anyone hanging. This could lead to a reputation of poor communication.

The general consensus is making plans and setting goals is crucial if you want to manage your time as efficiently as possible. Write things down to keep track of your responsibilities. Making sure you aren’t overworking yourself will help with your productivity, allowing you to operate at your full potential and prevent burn-out. Though it may take some time to fully grasp the concept and skill of time management, it is a worthwhile endeavor.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year: when MVHS comes together to save lives! On November 9, from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., students and faculty will have an opportunity to donate blood and help those in need. The theme follows “Get in the Game of Life Give Blood” and the goal is currently “to collect 100 pints of blood, which could then save up to 300 lives,” according to Ms. Kristina Reach, the blood drive coordinator.

“In the US someone needs a blood transfusion every two seconds,” Ms. Reach informs. The process is very thought out: “The Community Blood Center of the Ozarks (CBCO) provides ALL of the blood for every hospital in Southwest Missouri and Northern Arkansas. So if someone close to us needs blood, it will be supplied from a donor of the CBCO. So hosting blood drives through the CBCO saves lives. Each pint of blood donated has the potential to save up to three lives of people from the Ozarks.”

In order to reach that goal, at least 125 people need to be signed up to donate. Donors will receive a Kansas City Chiefs t-shirt and refreshments for their participation. These are not the only rewards though. Donors will have the honor of knowing they saved people.

When asked what her favorite part of the drive every year was, Ms. Reach states, “... knowing that we make a difference in our local community.” She goes on to say, “The CBCO started letting blood recipients anonymously send a thank you to their donors. After our last blood drive I received a thank you note from a person who had been in a motorcycle accident and my blood donation helped save their life.” For every donor, the generosity is worth it.

The annual blood drive is highly important for MVHS. It gently reminds everyone that it’s important and kind to give to those in need. Save a life and sign up to donate blood this upcoming November!

Senior year: a time of heartbreaking trips down memory lane, but also the start of new beginnings. Here at MVHS, most seniors are beginning to venture down the path of focusing on their futures. Degrees, scholarships, career navigating, and the impending doom of choosing which college they might soon call home: the process of college decision-making is one that can bring excitement but also mind-jumbling confusion. However, with some help from professionals, the trek of finding the perfect college can be simpler than one might think. After all, anything is possible with loving guidance, right?

To help seniors navigate the chaos that is finding the college that fits them best, MVHS counselor Stephanie Smith offers an abundance of advice. When asked some key questions, Mrs. Smith answers with flowing intelligence. Here are a few of the tips Mrs. Smith offers to confused seniors.

College is YOUR decision

Whether it's the fear of being able to pay for tuition or the persuasion of family and friends to continue a tradition, the process of your college-decision making can sometimes be riddled with the input of others. Many students have fallen victim to this in the past. It’s crucial to remember that your education is always 100% your choice. Mrs. Smith recommends taking the time to “do lots of research.” This is beneficial in helping seniors find what is perfect for them. Mrs. Smith also states that college “will differ from person to person. For some, it will be cost-can I afford it or will I have to go into debt to receive my degree? For others, it might be the reputation of the school. Are they known to be a good school and prepare you for the workforce? For others, it would be the location-do you want to stay close to home, or do you want to travel?” Ultimately, the specifics of college are all up to you. It’s best for seniors to block out the overwhelming buzz around them, and focus more on what is absolutely perfect for them.

It’s never too early to start preparing for college

In the art that is preparing for college, anti-procrastinating will become your best friend. Starting college prep now is a huge advantage in finding (and making it into) the college of your dreams. Whether it’s applying for scholarships or simply taking the time out of their day to do some research, preparation is the key to success. For some students, however, figuring out what to do in high school for future college planning can be as confusing as assembling a jigsaw puzzle with no edge pieces.

Luckily, Mrs. Smith again offers wonderful counseling on where students can find scholarships and what they can do right now in order to ease college stress. “[Students can] Google scholarships and research to see if there are any that fit [their] specific needs.” She continues, cautiously saying, “Be careful in doing this to verify it is a reputable site.” Mrs. Smith advises to “be careful what information you share.” Students can also check with colleges of interest to see if the facility offers scholarships of their own. Mrs. Smith offers some final advice on what students can do right now for their educational futures. “It is important to not just get good grades but to also have good attendance and study habits. Also, try to find opportunities to volunteer. That is a big component of scholarship and college applications. Another thing is to make good choices with your social media. Colleges check into that whenever choosing students they will accept.” Above all, remember it’s never too early to prepare for college. The future of a student's education starts now!

Get a feel for college life

It has been said many times that environment can have a large impact on someone’s mood, and college is no exception. Most college students will spend at least two to four years in college. That’s a big dedication! It’s important for students to enjoy their college experience, and the setting of a college plays a huge role in this. Mrs. Smith even states that it’s important for students to personally visit their colleges. “Visit the campus to see if you could picture yourself there because that is where you will spend the majority of your time for years. Many times on a college visit, you can meet with a professor or sit in on a class to see how that process feels.” Being somewhere you feel comfortable will heavily influence students’ abilities to focus and succeed in college. Your environment is everything. Find a place that you feel confident in calling your home for a number of years.

Overall, the process of making college decisions can be incredibly stressful, but it’s something many people journey through. Utilizing these tips and focusing on preparation can make picking a college a breeze. Remember that college should be personal to you. Make it enjoyable and fall deeply in love with the brightness of your future. Dear seniors, you can do this! Power through and be amazed at all you can accomplish, the world is yours.