Saturday, August 25, 2012

High School Success for Dummies( Student AND Parents)



High school is a very exciting and overwhelming time for a student and parents. New school, new friends and new teachers can all add to the excitement or create its own new set of anxieties. The first year of high school is the perfect time for students and parents to begin to set the tone for the next four years and life to come. 

1. Build valuable relationships.
Teachers,friends, guidance counselors and administrators will occupy your time in school,so make sure you make the most of each relationship. The adults will be there to help you and serve in  many roles in your academic career in high school, so making sure that they know the best you there is and are aware of your future goals is essential.  When it come to friends, sometimes they can make or break you. Surround yourself with individuals with common goals. This support system will help create a system of checks and balances, holding you accountable and providing you with encouragement. It's hard to see how important this is as a youth, but as you mature, the process almost happens on it's own.

2. Challenge yourself.
Take a higher level course, go out for a new sport. Setting high standards for yourself teaches goal making skills and later helps you to be in control of your destiny. 
3. Do something extra.
Join a club or other extracurricular activity in your free time . Finished earning your service learning hours? Go earn some more. In addition to enhancing your resume, you may learn a new skill or gain awareness of a profession you weren't aware of before. In addition, adults are more likely to help a student that wants to learn more and is willing to volunteer of themselves.

4. Strengthen Leadership skills
Student government, head of club, captain of a sports team. These are all roles that offer leadership skills and also look good on college applications. But keep in mind, a good leader is also a good listener. Be open to learning as much as possible from each opportunity. Start a side business if you have entrepreneurial ambitions. This can help you save for college and also give you a good foundation for the business world upon time to get a job.

5. COMMUNICATE: Parents and students, this is key. Students need to make sure they communicate everything important to their parents and parents, keep the lines of communication early so your student is willing to share with you. Talk about grades, college goals, issues in school with teachers and friends. Before you are the last to know of something, be proactive in keeping the lines of communication open with each other.

There are many more things that can assist in helping to create a successful high school student, but if you start with these basics, the rest will come easy.

For more tips, read these articles:

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