As a senior student whose last days of high school are approaching, I have recently found myself thinking about the numerous things that I wish I had known back in Grade Nine. I can’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve thought to myself, “If only I’d known then, I wouldn’t be in this mess now!” But, all mistakes provide a chance to learn and mine were no different. However, it’s a lot less painful to learn from the mistakes of others, so here are the ten things that I wish that I had known in Grade Nine.
1. High school is busy. There are plenty of new people to meet, new things to try, and a never-ending barrage of things to be done; there isn’t any time for you to be shy. I was a shy girl throughout my entire childhood. In a group setting, I would never talk unless I was spoken to first. It took me until Grade Eleven to realize that I had missed out on a lot of great opportunities because I chose to be silent rather than get to know the people around me. That doesn’t mean that I’ve suddenly become outgoing and popular! I’m still quiet and a little nervous when in a room full of strangers, but now I make a conscious effort to strike up conversations and as a result I’ve made valuable new friends.
2. TDSB students are required to complete 40 hours of community service in order to receive their high school diploma. However, rushing to complete the hours as quickly as possible is not the way to go. After I completed the required hours, I continued to volunteer because I loved the various opportunities it provided. Volunteering allowed me to meet new people and make friends. In a position where nobody knew me, I was able to open up and try new things, because I knew that no one could judge me based on my past. In order to enjoy volunteering, you have to choose something that you like to do. I like working with kids, so all of my placements involved children. If you enjoy sports, try a community centre, or if you like books, a library. Choose something you enjoy so that you will commit yourself to doing well and hopefully you’ll love every minute of it.
3. I knew I was forgetful, but I never realized how much this affected me until I forgot something seconds after it popped into my mind! If your memory is anything like mine, you know that important thoughts can disappear faster than water from a rusty bucket. With that in mind, use your planner! If you get into the routine of checking it often, it can help you organize your time and improve your memory. Write down everything, even the little things that you feel have no relevance to school. If you don’t like the planner that the school has provided, get one that you like! Use bright colours, draw in it, and make it your own so that you enjoy using it.
4. Extra-curricular activities are a huge part of high school life. Join everything you’re interested in! Try things out! If you have your eye on an executive position, make sure to join the club or council in grade nine so that you can learn more about it, and give yourself multiple opportunities to apply for job. I have lost the chance to get positions that I wanted because I waited too long to join and put off writing applications. Deadlines exist for a reason.
5. I was never an athletic person, so in my first years of high school, joining a school team never once crossed my mind. In my last year however, I made the decision to join a team just to try something new. Now I wish that I had joined earlier because one year to learn a new sport isn’t enough. Having to wake up early in the morning was difficult for me, but I got used to it after a while. It feels great to get my heart racing bright and early in the morning. It leaves me awake, energized, and eager for the rest of the day!
6. Acting confidently can often help you to genuinely feel sure of yourself. This can make trying new things and meeting new people much easier. If you don’t have confidence in yourself, other people will see it. Almost everyone is attracted to confident, friendly people so smiling comes in handy too! It’s the simplest way to make others more comfortable. No one wants to start a conversation with someone who looks insecure and unapproachable. Open yourself up to others and be friendly, and you’ll become more confident in no time.
7. At our age, arguments with close friends are common. It seems outrageous, but it was a hard lesson for me to learn that people are not mind readers and that I shouldn’t expect them to know how I feel. If you are displeased with something your friend does, or the way they handle something, don’t be afraid to tell them! If your friendship is strong, a little criticism going both ways will not harm your relationship. Bottling up your emotions is not the answer, and you’ll end up being the only one in pain because the person you’re angry at won’t know about it! Do yourself a favour and, instead of wallowing in self-pity, tell people if something is wrong and they will do the same for you.
8. Most students never get enough sleep. When we aren’t well-rested, we don’t have the energy to focus on school, or anything else! One way I combat this is to take a quick nap after school. Naps have been an essential part of my high school life. It’s amazing how refreshed you’ll feel even after a short fifteen to thirty minute nap. Be careful not to sleep for too long, though, or else you’ll feel even more tired after you wake up.
9. It’s mid-afternoon and your stomach is growling. The vending machines are calling out to you with their bright, flashy lights, and the razzle-dazzle of delicious treats waiting for you to eat them, but don’t fall into their trap! It goes without saying that all those chips and candy are very unhealthy for you, and that the vending machines eat your money at lightning speed! Even if you don’t buy them every day, by the end of the year, it can add up to more than $100 spent solely on snacks! Try bringing fruits or veggies for a healthy snack, or even bring your own treats from home! It’s okay to buy something yummy once in a while, but don’t make it a habit.
10. It may be hypocritical for me to say this since I do it so often, but procrastination is your biggest enemy. What hinders most students from getting high marks isn’t difficult work or hard teachers, it’s simply procrastination! My most commonly-used excuse for procrastination is that I work best under pressure. To be completely honest, I know that if I started earlier, I would be able to make my work better. I’ve often found myself wishing that I could do an assignment over because I didn’t start early enough and as a result I didn’t do as well as I could have. The only real solution that I’ve found to procrastination is self-discipline. This isn’t easy, but if you keep working at it, you can beat it.
I’m sure that many of you have already learned some of these things early on, but I hope this has proven to be useful for those of you who haven’t. There are still four years left in your high school adventure, so make the best of them, and good luck!
