More than 79% of students in high school reported daily stress in 2020, and since then, things have not gotten easier.
There are endless things that can impact your ability to become a good student and see the future you want. Going all into academics may seem like the route to success, but without social skills and mental health, you will fall behind.
Keep reading to discover the most useful tips for becoming a well-rounded student in and out of the classroom!
Work on Time Management
One of the most important parts of becoming a well-rounded student is learning how to manage your time.
High schoolers have to juggle work from multiple classes, attend sports practices, and join clubs. All of this can become overwhelming and it's easy to fall behind in the classroom when your time isn't balanced. Designating realistic timeframes for each activity you need to complete can help you get to it all.
Make sure you are realistic about the time it takes to complete each thing. You also don't want to underestimate the unwritten things you have to do each day, like showering or eating dinner.
Be patient with yourself and don't hesitate to adapt your plans. College students and adults often struggle with time management because they never learned about it in high school.
Find a Good Group of Friends
No one can make it through the public education system without making friends.
Friends are essential for social development and they also give you something to look forward to on difficult days. Although it's tempting to avoid drama and vulnerability, you need to step out of your comfort zone to meet new people at school.
A lack of friendship could impact your high school experience and make it less memorable. The best way to make friends in high school is by surrounding yourself with people who have common interests.
Healthy friendships can help mold you into a well-rounded student. Adults often struggle to make friends. This makes high school an essential time for establishing lifelong relationships.
If you find yourself in a group of friends that bully you or bring you down, you may want to spend time with others. The people you hang out with will influence your mood, behaviors, and success.
Join Clubs and Teams
If you want to balance your academic and social life in high school, clubs, and sports are the best way to do it.
High schools typically have a variety of clubs and if one isn't already established, you can petition for its creation. Sports are available to most high school students since other schools in the area will play against you.
Soccer, football, and track are some of the most popular sports. You can also get involved in baseball, basketball, and tennis. Understanding the benefits of extracurricular activities can help encourage you to attend tryouts!
Clubs and sports are great for getting to know peers with common interests. You can also sign up for them for entertainment or academic purposes.
Inspire Others
If you dream of becoming a leader in the future, you need to start inspiring yourself and others.
Being the kind voice when peers aren't being nice, motivating, and keeping a positive mindset will help you excel. Whether you go to college or not, you need to have skills to encourage yourself and get others to put in the work.
High school teachers provide plenty of opportunities to step into the spotlight and see how you do under pressure. When you start having a positive impact on yourself and your friends, you will see them succeed alongside you.
Inspiration comes in many forms. If you are focused on something that is positive and leads to growth, it should come naturally. Paying attention to motivation can help you become an effective business owner or manager after high school.
Prioritize Rest
When children start growing up, bedtimes get pushed to later times, but teens need sleep.
Teenagers need to get eight to ten hours of sleep each night to replenish their brains and bodies. Puberty requires a lot of energy, and sleep is the only thing that will help you keep up in the classroom or on the field.
Sleep is essential for academic success, mental, and physical health. Although it's tempting to stay up talking to friends or studying for a test, you'll be more observant in the classroom with rested eyes.
Try to follow the same sleep schedule, even on the weekends during the school year. Many people make the mistake of staying up late, but the consequences don't appear until days later. This means that going out after a football game could impact your concentration on Monday.
Discover Your Interests
High school is the best time to explore your passions and interests.
Knowing your interests will help you find motivation and apply school lessons to your daily life. Some parents are pulling their kids out of public schools to make learning enjoyable. Whether you like to cook, work on cars, or in the woodshop, you have learned important lessons along the way.
Many college students waste their time and money by switching majors. Diving into your interests at an early age can help you narrow down options for the future so you can land a career you love. It's okay to change your mind and try something new but if you never commit, you could feel like you're constantly job-hopping.
Signing up for clubs and hanging out with friends can help you further explore your interests.
Volunteer in Your Community
Extracurricular activities can expose you to different interests, but if you want to make a larger impact, you can focus on your community.
Certain high schools require service hours to be completed for graduation. Whether you need to volunteer to graduate or just want to do some good, you can make an impact. Medical facilities, animal shelters, and food banks are often looking for volunteers.
You can also check your local libraries, museums, and parks for other opportunities. Volunteering will look good on resumes and can expose you to different lifestyles and knowledge.
If you're still not convinced to volunteer, you can also do it for your mental health. Studies show that volunteer work can decrease stress and depression. When you help others and connect with nature, you find a greater sense of purpose outside of school grades.
Get a Part-Time Job
There are several reasons to consider getting a part-time job in high school.
Once you're old enough to work and have reliable transportation, working a few hours a week can help you prepare for the future. First jobs will give you a chance to meet people outside of your high school. They also provide opportunities to make money and excel in your career in the future.
Although most teenagers go toward the food and retail industries, you can still find positions you're interested in. Some students know what they want to do as a career early on, a part-time job can give you exposure before you invest in a college degree.
As a high school student, your education should always come first. If you struggle to get enough sleep or time to study, you may have to reduce your hours. Fortunately, businesses are patient and understanding to staff when they communicate their needs.
Reduce Your Stress
Deep breathing, journaling, and resting are great ways to reduce stress levels.
High schoolers are under constant stress, which can fatigue the brain. If you want to remember school material and ace your exams, you need to prioritize your mental health. Reducing stress will help you better retain information and retrieve it during tests.
Trauma, family issues, and other things can be difficult for teenagers to overcome. If you're struggling to manage stress and anxiety, talking to the school counselor will help. Building a coping toolbox for depression and stress can improve your performance in the classroom.
Lean into the Arts
Art classes are often overlooked by high schoolers, and others think it's an "easy A."
Leaning into the arts comes with many benefits and interpretations, however. Music, art creation, and theater give students an outlet for expressing themselves. When emotions and thoughts can't be put into words, you need other ways to be authentic.
With technology and the current schooling system, art classes are getting cut and becoming less of a priority. You can look into your school's classes and clubs or practice at home. Art is essential, it gives you the opportunities to develop imagination and problem-solving skills.
Work on Communication Skills
Talking and listening can be difficult when your mind is constantly turning its wheels.
If you want to be a well-rounded student with good grades and friendships, you have to speak and listen with purpose. Lectures are the perfect time to practice listening skills and ensure you're absorbing new information. Your teachers or friends will likely discover what was gone over in class, and you can compare what you got from the lesson to others.
Communication skills will take a lifetime to develop, so be patient with yourself. The more you practice listening and speaking, the easier it'll be to do presentations in college and your career!
Keep an Open Mind
As a teenager, there is still a lot to learn about the world and the people that live in it.
Keeping an open mind in high school will prevent you from making any assumptions. When you go into the classroom with a closed mind, it could hold you back from understanding a lesson or making a new friend. Try to be accepting of other beliefs, even if you don't agree with them.
Learning is all about seeing information from a different perspective and dissecting it. When you keep your mind open, you will begin to absorb new info effortlessly.
The most important place to keep an open mind is with your peers. Students (and adults) all come from different backgrounds and not all of them have the money or emotional support you might have. Even if someone doesn't act or look like you doesn't mean they couldn't be a close friend.
Gradually Prepare for College
Juniors and seniors are often left stressed and busy filling out applications and trying to meet college deadlines.
Gradually working on your documentation and plans can help you make the most of your final years in high school. Instead of trying to boost your grades in the last semester, you can focus on them earlier and have more time to relax before college.
You can also prepare for college by working with the teachers in your school. Offering to help them can help you get a recommendation letter, which you'll need for your education and jobs.
Participate in the Classroom
When is the last time you offered to be the first to do a presentation or answer a question?
Many high schoolers are scared to participate because they don't want to get judged. Being a know-it-all or getting the wrong answers could impact your reputation, but this is hardly the case.
Participating in the classroom can help you increase confidence and encourage others to do the same. When you are brave and show humility in your mistakes, you will gain the respect of yourself and others. Don't be afraid to raise your hand if you know the answer or can't comprehend the topic.
Will You Be a Well-Rounded Student?
High school is a time to explore your interests, develop friendships, and gain knowledge.
Being a well-rounded student doesn't mean you need to dedicate every second to the books. By gaining experience, you can become better prepared in the classroom and while dealing with other students. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone to discover what path you'll take after your senior year.
Make sure you check out our site for more information about excelling in your academics!
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