What I wish I knew as an underclassman

By Morgan Hughes

Class of 2015

High school is where we are supposed to find ourselves, prepare for college, a career, or service, become sufficient in the liberal arts, and begin our paths to adult lives. If that doesn't sound like enough pressure, we are expected to do it pretty much on our own. As a senior who has done all this and is almost done with this part of my life, I now know a lot of things I wish I did four years ago. I wish someone had told me what would help me succeed and what would lead to my demise. Don’t walk through the doors of the high school ever again without knowing these seven things that I wish I knew as an underclassman.

Take advantage of what other people have done.

No, I don’t mean in a parasitic way. I cannot stress this one enough. Use what you have around you, and not just computers and books- use your teachers. Even if you have never had a teacher in class, don’t be afraid to talk to them. Mr. Duluk and Mr. Holster have given me a ton of information about what to expect in college. Ms. Forsgard has talked to me about what it’s like to learn and work in the broadcast journalism world. Mr. Russo used to work at a radio station before he was a history teacher and knows a lot about what it’s like to write ads for broadcasts. Mr. Scozzaro knows A LOT about technology and social media- something that a school in this age needs. Don’t be afraid to ask! Talking to teachers and other adults in and out of school has helped me realize a lot about what I want and need to do in my educational and vocational careers. I've been emailing teachers and alumni from colleges I may want to attend and people who work in the career field I want to enter, and I have learned so much from just talking to them that I would not have been able to get off the internet. JUST TALK TO SOMEONE!

Join clubs and activities that interest you.

At Freshman Step Up Day, I was speaking to a few incoming freshman boys about clubs and activities. When I tried to explain to them the importance and value in joining clubs, they said “I play football, why would I need to join any clubs?” Colleges look for well-rounded students. Joining clubs is the perfect way to do this. Try something that interests you, and you might discover a new passion you never knew you had, and maybe even one that you want to do for a career. If a college is looking at two students with good grades, and one is a one-sport athlete while the other is in Debate, Science, Leo Club and plays a sport each season, they are quickly going to choose the student with a variety of activities. They want to see that you are educated and passionate about a variety of things, as well as that you can manage your time well between extra-curriculars, school, and work.

Start studying now!

Even if you’ve gotten straight A’s without reviewing your notes once, college will be much different. You could take notes all semester and have one or two huge tests in college. Although it’s easy to get by in high school, things will quickly change once you leave here. You should get into the habit now so that you don’t struggle until you actually get there. For now, study a week or two in advance in small amounts. It’s more effective to study for thirty minutes at a time with ten minute breaks than to cram it all in Sunday night! You will be glad you did. Even better, you could study each night, going over the material you just learned. This will be the best strategy in college when you have class once a week. It’s easier said than done, but if you can buckle down and do it you’re already in a better place than I am!

Take the most challenging classes you can.

It’s better to have a B- in an AP class than an A+ in a level one class. Colleges will want to see that you have challenged yourself. It’s better to know this now than to figure it out Junior year when you have one semester left to impress the college of your dreams. Start taking higher level classes early so that you can get used to the course load and detailed content. AP classes are also a good indicator of what college classes will be like; a lot of information packed into a short period of time!

The friends you have now will most likely not be the friends you have forever.

You will most likely not be the same person senior year as you were freshman year. Your interests, hobbies, talents, and even your personality will change as you grow and begin to find yourself. You have to remember that not everyone will develop like you do, and that may mean walking a different path than your friends (whether it comes peacefully or not). You also have to remember that just because you are in between friend groups, does not mean you will be a loner forever. Friends come when you least expect it, and those are the best kind: the people you share classes with, have interests in common with. When you leave high school, it will be even easier to make friends with similar interests, as at that point most people your age will have discovered themselves and what they like to do. Just be friendly to everyone; you never know when you might meet your new best friend.

Take a risk.

Contrary to popular social belief, you can in fact stray away from what your friends do. If they are all on the lacrosse team and you want to participate in the Debate Club on Thursdays, do it! Take a step outside your comfort zone, and you will more likely than not come across new friends, passions, and experiences that you had never even thought about before. There are so many things available to you in high school that you haven’t had before. This also applies outside of social constraints. Run for student government, try out for the basketball team, and audition for the play. Don’t be afraid to be the first person to present your project, sing your song, or give your opinion. BE THE FIRST! It shows initiative and drive (AND teachers usually grade the first person lighter because there is no one to compare them to). If there’s something you want to do that no one else has done before, just go for it.  Start a club or be a part of something that was outside of your limits before. First impressions matter, so make a bold one.

It’s not about who you are, it’s about what you know.

Many people are afraid to step outside social boundaries and break away from the in-crowd. Being ‘popular’ or accepted in high school literally means nothing. The people who peak in high school could be the ones who end up at dead-end jobs trying to live vicariously through their own teenage children, and it could be YOU who becomes the CEO of a multi-million dollar company. Be yourself. Do what you enjoy. Wear what makes you smile when you look in the mirror. Say what you’re thinking. You can dress punk-rock and be in the top ten percent of your class. You can join the theater and play lacrosse. When you are comfortable enough with yourself to break away from stereotypes and social constraints, you will truly enjoy your life. And believe it or not, no one will care either way.  Really, no one will make fun of you or even give a second thought about it. You are your greatest critic. In the end, it’s not about who you were in high school: a jock, a nerd, a preppy, a theater-kid or a band-kid. It’s ultimately about what you learned and the person you have become through these experiences.

If I could go back in time and relive high school (which I wouldn't do by choice) with the things I know now, I think I could have made my four years worth a lot more. These are the last few years that you will have with little to no serious responsibility. Make the most of it now that you know these things, before it’s too late.