A Few Words of Advice: 8 Things to Live by in High School

High school is such a unique experience for all. Yes, some people will be already done with high school in four years and continue to say how much they disliked it. But on the other hand, some people will preach about how much they would love to go back to high school. Regardless of your personal opinion, I think that we can all agree on how challenging it is to go through five years of high school. So here are some tips that may help you get through your time here.

1. Be Kind to Everyone

This one might be exhaustingly obvious, but I still don’t think that most people actually remember to live by this rule in their daily lives. I can’t tell you how many times I am walking through the hallway and hear things that are so hurtful and judgmental. We ALL need to remember that perspective is key and although you may think that what you are saying is part of your daily vocabulary or conversation, what comes out of your mouth may ruin someone else's day.

2. Stay Organized

Usually after the first couple of weeks of school, my backpack becomes a hot mess and I have loose papers everywhere in my backpack, but I have recently learned that how you handle your life is how your brain is. If your room is a little bit messy, then your brain is a little bit scattered. Make sure that you are trying to stay tidy and somewhat under control.

3. Be Yourself

You could either live your life trying to be someone else and be forced to be happy, or you could live authentically and experience moments of discomfort or loneliness but live your life the way that best suits you. High school is one of those places where you feel as if you have to act like everyone else and dress like everyone else and have everything that everyone else has. Maybe during these couple of years it would be best to find a happy middle ground.

4. Manage Your Time

I think that it's safe to say that most people have an after-school activity, whether that be theater, newspaper, sports, student council, or any of the other activities you can join. It can be hard to make sure that you balance your time between doing what you want to do and what you have to do. Make sure to spend time doing what you enjoy, but also make sure that you set aside time to get through what you have to.

5. Build Good Relationships

By this, I mean make sure that you have a handful of family members, teachers, staff members, and students that you can trust to communicate on a regular basis with. I am a big proponent of quality over quantity, so I encourage everyone to find at least two or three people who you are similar to or have a good friendship with.

6. Ask for Help

One of the biggest pieces of advice I can give you is to ask for help. Ask that teacher how to finish the math problem. Ask how to finish that paragraph. Ask what is due tomorrow. But also ask other questions like “When is the Student Council meeting?” or “Where is the cafeteria?” There is never a question that is “too dumb” or “stupid.”

7. Take Care of Yourself

Make sure that during the craziness of high school, you take the time to care for yourself. Take a shower, watch a movie, hang out with friends over the weekend, spend time with family, and listen to music by yourself. Whatever brings you joy or happiness, make sure that you incorporate that into your life so that you aren't getting run down all the time. 

8. Manage Stress

It is very easy to get stressed and overwhelmed when there are so many things going on every week. Everyone should find something that helps to take the stress away from daily life. Whether it be listening to music, binging a show, taking your dog for a walk, cleaning your room, or hanging out with friends, make sure that you find time to decompress and recharge.

High school can be rough, but it can also be one of the best times of your life. It all depends on what you want to happen and how you want your life to turn out. Be proactive. Be kind. Be you.