Whether focused on academics, sports, or extracurricular activities, many high school students are vastly involved in multiple activities, while others are not. Your four years in high school can either be a learning and growing experience, or they can simply be time you wish would go by faster. It is your obligation to make the most of all opportunities in high school in order to grow and experience new possibilities.

Academically and socially, high school is challenging. Everyone has the choice to take classes of higher or lower difficulty, to try out for sports teams, or to become actively involved in school-oriented clubs and activities. The four years of high school are a stepping-stone between childhood and adulthood. With this being said, students have the responsibility to step out of their comfort zone and try new things. To do so, I strongly encourage you to take advantage of all that the school provides: try numerous clubs, volunteer with different organizations, try out different sports, and challenge yourself with academics.

These opportunities allow you to acquire the essential skills of time management, public speaking, taking initiate, and social skills. These skills are all crucial to excelling in future jobs and other possibilities. Without these qualities, you will not be able to fulfill your personal potential. Additionally, everyone matures in different rates, in different conditions, and at different times. What helps one person might not help another, so do not feel limited to the path that relatives or friends have followed.

High school is a time to find your passions and interests by trying unique, exciting things. It is a time to evolve and to jump at every possibility. At the end of the day, everyone has the same ability to take advantage of the chances presented, but it is up to you to take initiative.