Recipe for Successful High School Years

For some it is hell, for others it's paradise, but what makes one able to go through those years and not be scarred, traumatized or resentful about it for life. In this article, I have put together a little concoction that regroups a lot of the ingredients necessary to the success of one in high school.

1. Be yourself.

I know this cliché has been repeated over and over to a point where it almost doesn't mean anything anymore. But knowing who you are and staying true to who you are is the key to easy-going years. And if you don't know exactly who you are, then go with what feels right and you might just find yourself. A lot of the students I have talked to often seemed to not be sure of exactly who they are and what they want, but they try to figure it out. That makes high school pretty interesting.

2. Do what you like, but not just that.

Choosing an activity that you honestly like and that you can immerse yourself in is vital. It gives you something to look forward to, to make you forget the hell of teachers or troubles with other students. But as good as concentrating on one activity (such as music, drama, mathletes, etc.) can be, it is also excellent to hang out with other people. Variety keeps you on your toes and also keeps you from being labelled or misjudged.

3. Try to stay extroverted.

The trouble starts when one becomes too introverted. It's a lot more difficult for anybody to tease or make your life hell if you just stay extroverted and just go with the flow. Actually, a lot of the time, people won't even consider going after you or against you.

4. Don't bitch, 'cause they'll bitch back.

That fact is one of the most important and one that people often tend to forget. What goes around comes around, especially in high school. Talking about people behind their backs might seem like harmless or justified even, but it will always get back to you. I know that I personally never felt like I could trust the people that would come and talk to me about other people. Things can degenerate pretty fast in a school full of teenagers.

5. Integrity is the key.

Stay true to yourself, if something is going on around that you don't like or don't feel comfortable with, don't be afraid to speak your mind. Teenagers sometimes get into a lot of troubles because of bad influences around them. If a friend wants to do something that goes against what you believe, let him know. He might be a very good friend, but you have to live with yourself 24/7, so respect yourself.

6. Study, learn, understand.

Let's not forget that high school is still school, education might not seem like a priority for some teenagers while in high school, but what you learn is an investment in the future. The game of high school only lasts a few years, but you learn and know can be useful for the rest of your life. So do spend some time on studying and make an effort to understand, it makes everything simpler. Plus that way, you don't have your teachers and parents breathing down your neck.

7. Respect the teachers and other staff.

Boy that's a rule a lot of people forget, but it makes the high school years go a lot smoother. "The teacher has it in for me!" is a sentence that I've never had to utter and I am very glad. Because somehow that sentence is never said with cheerfulness and often comes with consequences. So what if the teacher has it in for you, you should probably look at what you could do to either make the teacher hate you less or at not provoke him. Having the teachers' respect comes in handy and goes a long way. Respect goes both ways.

That covers the basics. You may agree or disagree, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. If that helped some people find their way, then I am happy.

If you have some suggestions from your experience or observation, don't hesitate to let me know.