Here are some thoughts for parents on guiding your students in their journey through high school. The following concepts are ones you can share with your student, qualified by their year in high school.
Freshman Year – EXPLORE
Investigate new and different activities: sports, community service, the arts – to see what your interests are and where your talents lie. This may also mean to try honors courses or electives. These activities can be in school, after school, community based, private lessons/classes, league sports teams; try something new!
Sophomore Year – DEVELOP
Put a little more focus on your choices – what do you enjoy and want to spend time doing? Don’t overextend, but stay focused and pursue your interests. Summer may offer opportunities to specialize in those interests. Now is a good time to establish a monthly log of your activities and accomplishments.
Junior Year – ACCOMPLISH
Decide what you’re really interested in. What have and can you accomplish. Have you made a difference? Has there been a difference in you as a result of your involvement? Look for activities where you can have success in having an impact on the organization. Focus on what you enjoy; be more selective – the overall number of activities you’re participating in should be less.
Senior Year – LEAD
What leadership activities have you engaged in? Take initiative with an activity or event. You don’t have to be the class president but exhibit some type of leadership qualities within your areas of interest. Be sure your log is up to date and includes enough detail for easy reference when the time comes to for the log to be a resource.
Use these ideas as a road map for your student’s high school choices in preparation for college. Colleges value all 4 of these qualities noted above: Exploration, Development, Accomplishment, Leadership. And again, not every student is the Student Body President, nor should they be – but each student can flourish within their own areas of interest.