Dimond High School is a time to build confidence and prepare for the future. But it’s not always an easy experience. In fact, studies show that most high school students feel stressed and disconnected from their education.
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1. Academics
Academics are the core of a High School experience. Students take core classes such as Math, Science, Social Studies, English and a World Language. They also can sign up for AP classes and elective courses to explore different interests.
Taking the right classes can boost a student’s GPA and set them up for success in college. Students should keep in mind how colleges will look at their courses during the application process.
During high school, students are exposed to new subjects that they may not have experienced before in elementary or middle school. This can be exciting but also overwhelming. There are many options to choose from when choosing subjects to study, including AP classes and foreign language programs. There are also audition schools, which offer visual and performing arts programs to students who have passed an audition.
2. Activities
As students progress through school, they can often participate in a wide variety of extracurricular activities. These can be anything from a sports team, to a music group, to a student publication. Students can find a wide range of options, but should be careful not to overcommit themselves. It is recommended that they select extracurriculars that are relevant to their future goals and interests.
Students with a talent for creativity might enjoy extracurriculars that focus on the arts, like art or drama clubs. Similarly, students that have a flair for languages might find value in studying language or cultural groups, especially if they plan on continuing their studies beyond high school. College admissions officers appreciate extracurriculars that are meaningful, demonstrate talent, and add depth to the student profile.
3. Leadership
In high school, students are ready to take on more responsibility for themselves and their decisions. Demonstrated leadership skills are important to college admission boards and future employers.
Being a leader in a club, team, or group is one way to showcase your leadership abilities. Start out small by helping others with projects or attending brainstorming sessions. Over time, you’ll get noticed and eventually be able to step into the role of leader or co-leader.
Many schools offer leadership programs for high school students. These programs often include seminars, workshops, and networking opportunities. Some are geared towards specific career fields, such as NYLF Medicine or NYLF Law & CSI. Other programs are broader in scope, such as HOBY or Junior Achievement. These programs help students build confidence in their abilities as leaders and make connections with community members.
4. Sports
As a high school student, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to participate in interscholastic sports. These are typically organized by season and grade level, although some are more geographically focused than others.
Most states also have rules for how competitive each sport is and when it’s played, with the exception of some special cases. For instance, soccer may be one of the fall sports high school in some areas while in other states it’s part of the winter sports high school.
If the sport you love isn’t offered at your school, you can try starting a club to organize games with friends after school. It will give you valuable leadership experience that can help your resume stand out.
5. Extra-Curricular Activities
The high school experience offers students many opportunities to enrich their lives outside of the classroom through extra-curricular activities, including academic clubs, sports teams, student government groups and community service.
These activities teach a variety of skills, including teamwork, time management and communication. They also allow teens to explore their interests and develop a sense of personal identity.
According to a National Education Longitudinal Study brief, extracurricular activity participation is associated with consistent attendance and higher academic achievement among high school seniors. Students who participated in these activities were three times as likely to perform in the top quartile on a math and reading assessment than nonparticipants.
Work experience can also be considered an extracurricular activity and looks great on college applications. Whether it’s an internship, part-time job or babysitting, this type of work shows admissions committees that the student can balance commitment with academic pursuits.
6. Clubs
While you’ll have a lot of studying and test prep to do in high school, it’s also important to decompress and develop interests outside of the classroom. Joining clubs is a great way to do that!
For example, if you love writing, consider joining the creative writing club. This will help you practice your craft and see how much your skills improve over time.
Another popular extracurricular activity is joining your school’s French, Spanish or German club. These clubs often put on charity and cultural events that promote learning a new language!
If you’re thinking about engineering as a career, joining your school’s engineering club would be a great idea. You’ll learn a variety of engineering skills and even compete in local competitions. Sally, for example, created the Shark Tank Club her freshman year and gained invaluable leadership experience while growing it to over 50 fully-engaged students.
7. Extra-Curricular Activities
Many high schools offer students opportunities to explore their interests in the arts, sports and academic clubs or student government. These activities can help students develop a strong sense of work ethic and build leadership skills that they bring back to the classroom.
These activities also show colleges that students are committed to their futures and that they can balance school, sports and extracurricular activities. College admissions committees consider participation in extracurricular activities when reviewing applications.
Participating in extra-curricular activities is associated with consistent attendance and higher academic achievement. However, students should be careful not to overcommit themselves. When students spend too much time on activities, their grades can suffer and they may become disinterested in their activities. Balancing activities with a job can also be a good way to learn time management skills and develop career-related experiences.