How can I have a better High School experience?
Coming from someone who has a love-hate relationship with school, I can promise you that several others are asking the same question. Here at Page, I have interviewed a few students to help break down the highs and lows of high school. Starting off with Taylor Meister, who is a junior and holds the role of the editor behind Pages by Page. “I want to go to Clemson University to study journalism,” Taylor says. She demonstrates a great example for Page High School, and for her upcoming college applications. With her studies correlating to her major, Taylor can break down exactly what her interests are beforehand. Walter Pines Page High School offers various extracurriculars and sports depending on your hobbies or passions.
Working Hard
Georgia Blekicki plays travel soccer outside of school, and hopes to join varsity soccer this school year at Page. I’ve asked her to describe herself in only five words. “Hardworking, Competitive, Teamwork, Responsible, and Determined” she says. Georgia might only be a freshman, but she is already planning her short-term and long-term goals. “I want to make straight A’s and possibly join the Student Council” she states. Based off of her bright character, Georgia would be a great addition to any club or sports team she chooses. Making good grades now will influence her throughout the remainder of her high school education, and provide the opportunity for Georgia to attend college to study Sports Medicine as per her wish.
Perfecting Confidence
High School involves a lot of public speaking. If you are anything like me, you definitely would rather hide in a hole and die than perform a speech or presentation in front of everyone. You are not alone in this situation, i promise. Everyone gets anxiety, maybe not as bad, but no one goes their whole life without feeling nervous about something. Shawn Clark is a freshman, and his biggest struggle in school is public speaking. The only way to get past the initial public speaking is to pretend that you are confident. You don’t have to feel it, but acting confident will eventually lead you to believe that you are in fact, confident. Remember that everyone feels the same way, and that everyone is not staring at you. We are all just trying to get by, I promise that no one cares as much as you do in that moment.
Take Your Time
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” Everyone knows this horrid question that we never seem to have an answer to. The best part is that you don’t have to know right now. People continue browsing through possible career paths well into college. Learning what you are and aren’t interested in will benefit you in the long run. However, you don’t have to know a definite answer at this moment in your life. For example, Allie Mahoney wants to study biology or ecology in college. Keeping her options open is going to help her narrow it down when the time comes, and she has plenty of time since it’s only her sophomore year at Page High.
Motivation
How can we learn better study habits? Studying is difficult because we either procrastinate or just don’t have the motivation. Jai Johnson, a junior here at Page has a hard time studying because she never learned proper study skills. “I have ADHD which makes it more difficult to focus,” she says. Managing a diagnosis on top of school work must be hard and stressful, especially if there is a deadline. When asked “How can you improve your study skills?”, Jai says “I can get more ADHD medicine and maybe find someone to help”. Searching for resources is beneficial for success, and if you never ask for help how can you improve?
