With only a few days left until I move in to college, I've started to look back on the past thirteen years of tests, grades and sporting events. A lot changes in those four years called "high school," and after reflecting I've noted some things that I'm glad I knew - and some that I wish I had known - before I started high school.
Number one: Do something you love, but don't do everything.
Never start an activity with, "It will look great on a résumé." Freeze. Do not pass go, do not collect $200. Volunteering is important, but spending twenty minutes helping unhappily doesn't cut it.
Being captain of a sports team, president of a service club, soloist in the choir, and a student counsel representative may sound great, but being over-involved is counterproductive. How can you possibly be devoted and productive to each one of those activities? College admissions can see right through that. Instead of listing all those activities that you show up to one meeting a year, being able to show a long list of accomplishments in three activities is much more impressive.
Number two: Get to know your teachers.
Your teachers can end up being your best resources.
It's always nice to know that you have a few unbiased adults on your side. Not only is it someone to confide in, but you'll be thankful that you did this when you reach senior year and start applying for college: Almost every application requires one to two letters of recommendation from teachers, and you don't want to be forced to get letters from teachers that didn't know you.
Number three: It's never too early to start preparing.
SATs and ACTs... they were pretty much the bane of my high school existence. Though finishing your testing before senior fall is ideal, sometimes reality hits you in the face. Also, a note to all the underclassman: You can take these tests any time. That means if you are a good reader, it's totally okay to take the SAT 2 Lit test during sophomore year. Ignore the eye rolls you get from your friends. They're the ones who will be stressing when there aren't enough testing dates left before they apply to colleges.
Number four: The "C" word.
College.
The college search should be a completely personal process. And it's never to early to start visiting campuses (I started tours in 7th grade ... maybe don't start that early). Try not broadcast where you are applying. I know firsthand that the second a someone discovers that you are a senior, they be inclined to ask, "Where are you applying?!" They're is just curious and mean no harm, but you are by no means required to rattle off the list of schools that you are hoping to be accepted to. In fact, it is really awkward if everyone knows where you applied and you don't get in.
Last but definitely not least, Number five: Be honest.
Obviously this should be a no-brainer. We've been taught since kindergarten not to lie and have been presented with various consequences for it. But I'm not talking about stretching the truth or lying about copying somebody's answers (but seriously, don't cheat). I'm talking about being honest to yourself, about yourself. Our last project in my AP Psychology class (taught by the fantastic Kathryn Zastrow, incase you were wondering) was to do a "Last Lecture" from our point of view, modeled after the famous lecture given by Randy Pausch at Carnegie Mellon. In the project (which was a presentation given in front of the entire class) we had to talk about our childhood dreams, lessons we had learned from high school, lessons we had learned about ourselves, and future goals. Many students chose to include a segment called "Brick Wall" - coined by Randy as an obstacle in life that one has to overcome. There's nothing quite like having the attention and support of an entire class with whom you share your biggest challenges. Those were some pretty emotional class days, but I know many of us - definitely myself included - benefitted greatly from having such a unique opportunity to be completely honest.
These last few months have gone fast. Less than a month away from college, high school is starting to feel like a distant memory. However, no matter where I end up in the future, I know that the lessons I learned in high school will always be relevant.
- Sarah Sabatke is a 2014 Monroe High School graduate.
Number one: Do something you love, but don't do everything.
Never start an activity with, "It will look great on a résumé." Freeze. Do not pass go, do not collect $200. Volunteering is important, but spending twenty minutes helping unhappily doesn't cut it.
Being captain of a sports team, president of a service club, soloist in the choir, and a student counsel representative may sound great, but being over-involved is counterproductive. How can you possibly be devoted and productive to each one of those activities? College admissions can see right through that. Instead of listing all those activities that you show up to one meeting a year, being able to show a long list of accomplishments in three activities is much more impressive.
Number two: Get to know your teachers.
Your teachers can end up being your best resources.
It's always nice to know that you have a few unbiased adults on your side. Not only is it someone to confide in, but you'll be thankful that you did this when you reach senior year and start applying for college: Almost every application requires one to two letters of recommendation from teachers, and you don't want to be forced to get letters from teachers that didn't know you.
Number three: It's never too early to start preparing.
SATs and ACTs... they were pretty much the bane of my high school existence. Though finishing your testing before senior fall is ideal, sometimes reality hits you in the face. Also, a note to all the underclassman: You can take these tests any time. That means if you are a good reader, it's totally okay to take the SAT 2 Lit test during sophomore year. Ignore the eye rolls you get from your friends. They're the ones who will be stressing when there aren't enough testing dates left before they apply to colleges.
Number four: The "C" word.
College.
The college search should be a completely personal process. And it's never to early to start visiting campuses (I started tours in 7th grade ... maybe don't start that early). Try not broadcast where you are applying. I know firsthand that the second a someone discovers that you are a senior, they be inclined to ask, "Where are you applying?!" They're is just curious and mean no harm, but you are by no means required to rattle off the list of schools that you are hoping to be accepted to. In fact, it is really awkward if everyone knows where you applied and you don't get in.
Last but definitely not least, Number five: Be honest.
Obviously this should be a no-brainer. We've been taught since kindergarten not to lie and have been presented with various consequences for it. But I'm not talking about stretching the truth or lying about copying somebody's answers (but seriously, don't cheat). I'm talking about being honest to yourself, about yourself. Our last project in my AP Psychology class (taught by the fantastic Kathryn Zastrow, incase you were wondering) was to do a "Last Lecture" from our point of view, modeled after the famous lecture given by Randy Pausch at Carnegie Mellon. In the project (which was a presentation given in front of the entire class) we had to talk about our childhood dreams, lessons we had learned from high school, lessons we had learned about ourselves, and future goals. Many students chose to include a segment called "Brick Wall" - coined by Randy as an obstacle in life that one has to overcome. There's nothing quite like having the attention and support of an entire class with whom you share your biggest challenges. Those were some pretty emotional class days, but I know many of us - definitely myself included - benefitted greatly from having such a unique opportunity to be completely honest.
These last few months have gone fast. Less than a month away from college, high school is starting to feel like a distant memory. However, no matter where I end up in the future, I know that the lessons I learned in high school will always be relevant.
- Sarah Sabatke is a 2014 Monroe High School graduate.