1. Set Goals
Goal setting is a skill that develops over time. To be a successful goal setter, you will need to know your own work habits and motivators, so that you are able to set realistic goals. Setting unrealistic goals gets discouraging and cause you to give up easily.
The best way to #setyourselfupforsuccess when goal setting is to set realistic long term goals and work backwards by breaking them up into smaller, actionable steps. Next is to put a plan in place to achieve these steps and find a way to hold yourself accountable. It can even help to coordinate with a group of peers, so that you can help to hold each other accountable.
For example, if you have a Biology AP exam coming up, you should set some smaller goals to help prepare for it. By setting a deadline for ordering study books, joining online study programs, and completing tutorials, you break the big task down into smaller, more manageable pieces.
2. Master Time Management
Busy, successful people understand the art of time management. In order to optimize your performance across multiple aspects of your life, you will need to develop strong time management skills. This means making and following through on study schedules, developing organizational systems that work well for you, and learning how to multitask.
My Planner is a necessity that helps me keep my life in check. I use my Planner for everything from prioritizing my to do list, to 15 minute scheduling on my calendar to tracking club meetings and study schedules.
3. Select a Balanced Course Load
Finding balance is not an easy task for many. Loading up on over-challenging classes can leave you stressed out and feeling defeated. On the other hand, if you don’t take on a course load that is challenging enough, you may not only find ourself bored, but also limit your options when it comes to applying to colleges.
Early in your high school career, try to identify the right balance in course load for you. Freshman year is a great time to experiment with different levels of challenge and different subjects to figure out what works best for you. Aim to take the most challenging level of core subjects that won’t leave you overwhelmed, and then balance it out by selecting electives that are of interest you.
4. Be Active in your Community
Successful high school students aren’t only successful inside the classroom, but are also engaged members of their community. Get involved with issues that your are interested in, and educate yourself about the issues facing your community, and learn to use your voice so that people will listen to your ideas. Successful high school students are ones that are capable of speaking up and influencing change in a positive way.
5. Participate in Class
#Setyourselfupforsuccess by participating in class. Students who participate in class are more engaged in their learning and are better able to retain details in their memories, since thoughtful questions and consideration lend context to new information.
Also by participating in class, it shows your teachers that you’re listening and thinking about the material that’s being presented. Teachers are more likely to think of you as a dedicated student when you participate regularly in class discussions.
6. Take Care of Yourself
Don’t forget to be committed to #beingyourbest by taking care of yourself. Be sure to eat well, exercise, get enough sleep and practice mindfulness. If any of these fall by the wayside, you will not be able to perform at your peak, no matter how prepared you are. #Setyourselfupforsuccess by putting yourself first so that you are able to follow through on your commitments.
7. Find Your Passion
High school isn’t just a time to prove you are ready to tackle college. You should also use it as an opportunity to figure out what you are passionate about. Students who can identify their passions and pursue them are more engaged and motivated to succeed. Experiment with extracurriculars and pursue those activities that truly interest you. You can’t fake passion and your authentic motivation to pursue these activities will rise to the surface.
8. Learn How to Say No
Don’t fall into the trap of trying to do everything and risking burnout. Of course, you would love to help tutor a friend in AP Bio, and would love to run a fundraiser or Kids Helping Kids NNY, and would love to run the can drive for S.A.D.D. If you do all of these things, will your other commitments suffer?
#Setyourselfupforsuccess by learning how to say no in a way that is both courteous and humble. Something along the lines of “thank you for thinking of me, but I don’t think I have the time right now to do justice to such an important role. Please check in with me in the spring” lets people know that you appreciate the opportunity and may be available in the future.
9. Earn Leadership Roles
What’s more impressive than being a three sport varsity athlete? Many admissions committees would argue that they would rather see you advance in one sport from JV to Varsity Team Captain over the course of four years. This advancement into a leadership role shows that you are a dedicated team member who is respected by your peers.
This goes for other extracurriculars, as well. Think quality vs quantity. Instead of participating in many, and risking spreading yourself too thin, try to focus on a few and advance to leadership roles. Successful students know that this focus and determination is more important than simply a commitment to attend meetings.
10. Build and Leverage your Support System
#Setyourselfupforsuccess by learning how to Work Smarter – Not Harder. You might think that juggling all this alone will allow your strength and independence to shine through, but successful students know how to leverage the resources available to them. Build strong relationships with teachers and peers, establish connections with learning resources like the writer’s center or study hall teachers, and connect with mentors to ensure that you have a support system in place, even if you never use it.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to your support system if you need help. Don’t wait until you’re overwhelmed to ask for help, instead reach out to your network when you see the water rising. Don’t wait until it’s up to your chin before seeking help from your support system.
#beyourbest #setyourselfupforsuccess #worksmarternotharder
