(I am not sure where the thoughts below came from exactly – and they are not in any particular order: probably the answer is that there were multiple sources, including the writer thankfully.)
The high school student who is on a path to success is one who is proactive.
The people with whom they interact – guidance counselors, parents, mentors, siblings, friends – are assistants or coaches or supporters, but — they cannot do what you must do for you.
Therefore, High School students, here are some must-dos:
Practice self-discipline: distinguish between a need and a want; regard real reading as central, not peripheral; recognize that parties can happen anytime, unlike the required paper for school.
Take initiative: do research on college requirements, talk with everybody who can contribute to your understanding of the higher education or job world path, take the time to learn the basics of personal finance and begin to gain an understanding of college debt.
Pick five colleges and gather information on them.
When you are meeting somebody during a college tour or applying for a scholarship or interviewing for a job, arrive early and have some questions for the other person. You gain more from a conversation than from a monologue.
Create class schedules, beginning in your freshman year, which are compatible with what you hope to study in college.
Get involved on a consistent basis with a school activity or an outside volunteering commitment.
Take responsibility: tell your parents if they are doing too much for you.
Know what these mean: GPA, SAT, ACT.
Avoid being addicted to social media.
Understand that you are not alone: everybody is nervous about college: time management, becoming independent, roommates, money, homesickness, academics (!), networking, geographic adjustments.
Realize that these same students are like you: eager for new experiences, new friends, new environments, new levels of independence, new subjects of interest, new activities.
Being proactive helps you in two fundamental ways.
First, it means you are taking ownership of decisions which are yours to make. Second, it makes you better prepared for when you need to talk about important issues with those in your support group.
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