Class of 2019: My High School Experience

Finally, the year everyone waits for! The year we all talked about as we enter into our first year of high school. “I can’t wait until I’m a senior,” was a line I constantly said when I was growing up. Now that I am officially a senior…I’ll say, and with all honesty… I wish I was still a freshman. Days were much simpler then. College and scholarships applications weren’t knocking on my door yet and Jostens order forms weren’t due. Fears of not getting into my choice college were nonexistent and thoughts of attending my last high school events had not yet crossed my mind.

But, with all those tasks and emotions tightly latched onto me, I am ready to flip the page to a new chapter. Looking back on my last 3 years, the lessons I have learned along the way has shaped me to who I am today. I am excited to see what is to come in the next few months!

Here are things I have learned about high school:                        

1. Get involved: This is a statement I heard a million times my first year and never saw the importance of it until now. Involvement in school has only led me to a more positive high school experience. It has also led me to find wonderful friends who I will be sure to keep in contact with after we walk the Vollrath Bowl in June.
2. Choose classes that are interesting not because they are easy to pass: By choosing vigorous classes that I thought were similar to the career field I want to enter has assisted me in pursuing a marketing degree.
3. Ask lots of questions if a topic/subject does not make sense: Math is a subject that will always be difficult for me. The only way that I have gotten through this subject was by asking the teacher lots of questions whenever I did not understand a lesson.
4. Email teachers: By emailing my teachers whenever I needed help on anything or if I missed a school day, I was able to easily catch up with the class.
5. Get to know your teachers: Teachers are there to help. By getting to know my teachers, connections were made and I was more comfortable asking questions whenever I had a problem with anything.
6. Meet with your counselors: They are there to help and alleviate any stress! My counselor is one of my best resources. Whenever I need help with college or scholarship applications, need advice on my classes, or simply just need a listening ear, I know my counselor is there to help me with all of those things.
7. Find friends that have similar interests and are supportive/good influencers: Hanging out with the wrong crowd may lead to some bad decisions. I have surrounded myself with a good group of friends that focus on education and the importance of making good choices.
8. Don’t overload school schedules: I have found that I procrastinate way more when I have a loaded schedule than when I have an easy-going one. With too much work on my plate, it makes me look at it and not want to do any of it. That is why I try not to overwork myself and stay motivated to do my work.

High school leaves a wonderful lasting impression. I will be sad to say goodbye to my classmates whom I’ve known for the last 14 years. But I am excited to see what the future holds and the wonderful things we will all be accomplishing as we go our separate ways.