School is back and by now you’re really feeling the fall set in. Homework has started getting a little more intense, quizzes and tests are starting to pop up, and your extra-curricular activities are in full swing. As high school students, managing all of this can be tough. On top of that, you don’t want to be any high school student – you want to be a RARE high school student.
This means being different, standing out, and owning what makes you uniquely brilliant. But, how can you be a RARE high school student? There are a few simple ways to get you there!
What does being a RARE high school student entail?
R – Relationships
A – Activities and Academics
R – Responsibility and Reflectiveness
E – Experience and Effort
Let’s break it down!
R is for Relationships
The first piece to being a RARE high school student is building and maintaining important relationships. This includes teachers, counselors, community leaders, coaches and more. Developing great relationships with those in authority over you and seeking out ways to be mentored will be an invaluable resource throughout your high school years as well as your college career and beyond.
TIP: Don’t wait until your junior or senior year to meet with your professional school counselor. Make it a point to meet with them and begin building a relationship as early as possible.
A is for Activities and Academics
A RARE high school student also needs to focus on their academics and join activities that keep you involved and create opportunities for your future. Obviously keeping your grades and GPA high is important for many reasons like college acceptance, financial aid, and scholarship opportunities, but activities are extremely crucial as well.
TIP: Find 1-2 sports, activities, or clubs to join that you’re really passionate about. Devote time, energy and dedication into these things, working towards a leadership opportunity down the line. Identify an area you could serve, are passionate about, feel you can improve or make a difference. Make sure to set aside time to reflect upon your time, service and experiences. It will prove invaluable in your future endeavors.
R is for Responsibility and Reflectiveness
Taking responsibility for tasks you need to complete is something that will set you apart as a high school student. A big part of growing in maturity is realizing what you’re responsible for, taking action to complete it and owning it at every step until it is complete. A RARE student doesn’t blame others for his/her lack of follow-through and doesn’t make excuses. He or she takes complete responsibility learns from each experience and then looks forward to applying the learning and knowledge in future experiences and opportunities for an even better outcome.
TIP: You won’t be perfect all of the time and that’s why the reflective piece is so important. Take some time each month to reflect back on how the previous month went and what changes you’d like to make in the future.
E is for Experience and Effort
Lastly, a RARE high school student puts in the maximum amount of effort possible to show that they are a hard worker. Don’t tap out when things get tough or do the bare minimum to get by and take the easy way out. Pour yourself into what you’re passionate about and work hard for what you want in the future.
TIP: Write down what you want over the next 1-2 years. Look it over and consider the actions you need to take to get you there.
For more resources on becoming a successful high school and eventual college student, check out our resources page.
