advice we loved from students at L.F.H.S
From Ned Vizzini, author of It's Kind of a Funny Story:
1. Keep your antenna up-- be tuned in to life and find something you enjoy.
2. Don't sell yourself short-- stick with what you love even if it's not 100% realistic. Your passion will make you succeed.
3. Stress is not a real threat-- a bear is a threat, but stress is just our body's response to a perceived threat.
From Ryan Burns, Former Senior: Some people do things that they think will get them into college. It looks great on their résumé, but they don't really love what they do. When it comes to colleges, you are being judged on what you have done. If you don't love what you have done, can you love yourself? And if you aren't shining and proud of your years of high school, why should colleges think twice about letting you in? I have found more success and confidence doing what I love than building my résumé. I recommend you do the same. Everything else will fall into place once you are proud of what you do and who you are.
This Scout reminded us that... throughout high school, you always hear "You have to get into the best college after high school" or "LFHS will get you into the best college." It didn't occur to me until the second semester of my junior year that maybe I didn't want to go directly to college. After all the stress of high school, what's so bad about taking a year off to recuperate, get your priorities straight, earn a little dough, and really sleep on your decisions? Is it all that bad to get your required classes out of the way at CLC? Not at all. Some professions actually look highly upon it because it shows you don't go with the flow and you thought ahead. So, think about it-- gap years can make all the difference!
This Scout believes... it's very important to realize that we are in control of our own lives. Every day when we get up we make a CHOICE to go to school, we make a CHOICE to go to practice, we make a CHOICE to do our homework. We don't HAVE to do anything. It's important to take a step back from our lives, look at it from a bigger perspective and ask ourselves, is this really what I want to be doing? And if the answer is consistently 'no', then it's probably time to make a change. If it's 'no' only some of the time, maybe that's okay. But if every morning you get up filled with dread for the day to come, step back, take a break. Go talk to someone. There's a whole world out there to explore - never get stuck thinking you're STUCK and you don't have a CHOICE.
From Kyra Burke, Junior: Whether high school seems like the best or worst time of your life, take it with a grain of salt. What's important is doing the work so you can do what you want in the future.
From Anna Volkmann, Sophomore: Chances and opportunities in high school are right in front of us, and it's our decision whether to take them or not.
From Colin Seikel, Former Senior: One thing I wish I'd have had a grasp day one of high school is that there is no such thing as a "good college." There are only colleges that will float your boat and ones that won't. Don't get hung up on the idea that you can fail at getting into the right college because you can't! High school is not a time to wring yourself out for all the possible grades and extracurriculars you might muster and then see how high that will buy you on the ladder of colleges. That's el much loco. Enjoy yourself, and do nothing in the name of college admissions. Stick only to the things that mean a lot to you, and remember that your grades do not define you. Look around, look at yourself, and try to figure out what your LFHS experience really ought to be according to YOU! This whole high school thing might be a whole lot easier than you thought.
From Ellie Doyle, Former Senior: I was talking to one of my teachers today about an interview I had scheduled, and she gave me the best advice - that she would be most impressed by a student that seemed to be committing to things she loved, not just packing in a list of clubs and extracurriculars! It's hard to remember sometimes, but I try to remind myself that colleges don't just like lots of activities - they like to see passion. Try to find one or a few things you love and concentrate on them!
From Mac Myles, Former Senior: The biggest advice I have to everyone is to learn when to say "no." Trust me, I know from experience that overcommitting to too many extra-curricular activities and too heavy of a course-load only leads to nights of stress and lack of sleep. I'm not saying to quit all clubs and sports, but don't bite off more than you can chew. Everyone needs a little bit of time to themselves, and that 20 second power nap between passing periods won't cut it. Try taking a semester off and just concentrate on grades or drop down a level in a class you don't enjoy putting that extra effort into. It may seem that colleges want someone who is involved in everything, but first things first, they want someone who is mentally stable!
From Ingrid Lustig, Former Senior: Too busy to exercise? An important part of staying healthy and reducing your stress level is that you spend at least 20 minutes a day moving. So, try squeezing these 20 minutes into your schedule, even if it's just five minutes here and there. Walk home from school, trek to the bathroom at the other end of the school, or do squats while annotating a book. Your movement will even release endorphins, your brain's feel-good sensors.
And did you know? Forever Om Yoga occasionally offers $5 community classes for all levels! Reward your mind and body with an hour of relaxation.
1. Keep your antenna up-- be tuned in to life and find something you enjoy.
2. Don't sell yourself short-- stick with what you love even if it's not 100% realistic. Your passion will make you succeed.
3. Stress is not a real threat-- a bear is a threat, but stress is just our body's response to a perceived threat.
From Ryan Burns, Former Senior: Some people do things that they think will get them into college. It looks great on their résumé, but they don't really love what they do. When it comes to colleges, you are being judged on what you have done. If you don't love what you have done, can you love yourself? And if you aren't shining and proud of your years of high school, why should colleges think twice about letting you in? I have found more success and confidence doing what I love than building my résumé. I recommend you do the same. Everything else will fall into place once you are proud of what you do and who you are.
This Scout reminded us that... throughout high school, you always hear "You have to get into the best college after high school" or "LFHS will get you into the best college." It didn't occur to me until the second semester of my junior year that maybe I didn't want to go directly to college. After all the stress of high school, what's so bad about taking a year off to recuperate, get your priorities straight, earn a little dough, and really sleep on your decisions? Is it all that bad to get your required classes out of the way at CLC? Not at all. Some professions actually look highly upon it because it shows you don't go with the flow and you thought ahead. So, think about it-- gap years can make all the difference!
This Scout believes... it's very important to realize that we are in control of our own lives. Every day when we get up we make a CHOICE to go to school, we make a CHOICE to go to practice, we make a CHOICE to do our homework. We don't HAVE to do anything. It's important to take a step back from our lives, look at it from a bigger perspective and ask ourselves, is this really what I want to be doing? And if the answer is consistently 'no', then it's probably time to make a change. If it's 'no' only some of the time, maybe that's okay. But if every morning you get up filled with dread for the day to come, step back, take a break. Go talk to someone. There's a whole world out there to explore - never get stuck thinking you're STUCK and you don't have a CHOICE.
From Kyra Burke, Junior: Whether high school seems like the best or worst time of your life, take it with a grain of salt. What's important is doing the work so you can do what you want in the future.
From Anna Volkmann, Sophomore: Chances and opportunities in high school are right in front of us, and it's our decision whether to take them or not.
From Colin Seikel, Former Senior: One thing I wish I'd have had a grasp day one of high school is that there is no such thing as a "good college." There are only colleges that will float your boat and ones that won't. Don't get hung up on the idea that you can fail at getting into the right college because you can't! High school is not a time to wring yourself out for all the possible grades and extracurriculars you might muster and then see how high that will buy you on the ladder of colleges. That's el much loco. Enjoy yourself, and do nothing in the name of college admissions. Stick only to the things that mean a lot to you, and remember that your grades do not define you. Look around, look at yourself, and try to figure out what your LFHS experience really ought to be according to YOU! This whole high school thing might be a whole lot easier than you thought.
From Ellie Doyle, Former Senior: I was talking to one of my teachers today about an interview I had scheduled, and she gave me the best advice - that she would be most impressed by a student that seemed to be committing to things she loved, not just packing in a list of clubs and extracurriculars! It's hard to remember sometimes, but I try to remind myself that colleges don't just like lots of activities - they like to see passion. Try to find one or a few things you love and concentrate on them!
From Mac Myles, Former Senior: The biggest advice I have to everyone is to learn when to say "no." Trust me, I know from experience that overcommitting to too many extra-curricular activities and too heavy of a course-load only leads to nights of stress and lack of sleep. I'm not saying to quit all clubs and sports, but don't bite off more than you can chew. Everyone needs a little bit of time to themselves, and that 20 second power nap between passing periods won't cut it. Try taking a semester off and just concentrate on grades or drop down a level in a class you don't enjoy putting that extra effort into. It may seem that colleges want someone who is involved in everything, but first things first, they want someone who is mentally stable!
From Ingrid Lustig, Former Senior: Too busy to exercise? An important part of staying healthy and reducing your stress level is that you spend at least 20 minutes a day moving. So, try squeezing these 20 minutes into your schedule, even if it's just five minutes here and there. Walk home from school, trek to the bathroom at the other end of the school, or do squats while annotating a book. Your movement will even release endorphins, your brain's feel-good sensors.
And did you know? Forever Om Yoga occasionally offers $5 community classes for all levels! Reward your mind and body with an hour of relaxation.