High school can be a challenging and confusing time. However, with the right strategies, it can be an opportunity to unlock your potential and prepare for college. A high school education provides students with the opportunity to explore their interests, develop essential life skills, and establish meaningfulexplore their interests, develop skills for life, and establish connections with others. The breadth of a high school education extends beyond academic exploration, as it also provides students with the opportunity to acquire skills that will enable them to succeed in life. Making the most of these years is crucial for future success.
We spoke to three Prequel's Summer Program (formerly BETA Camp) alumni to get their take on what they wish they knew when they started their high school career. Their advice ranged from getting started early to what qualities you should pursue in friendships.
High School Tips: You Are Never Too Young to Start
High school is an important time in a student’s life. It’s a time when students are learning, growing, and preparing for college and the future. But it can be overwhelming and intimidating to think about college when you’re still in high school. It’s easy to feel like you’re too young to make any real progress towards your college dream.
However, the truth is that you’re never too young to start preparing for college and life after high school. It’s important to take advantage of the opportunities provided by your high school—from extracurricular activities to classes—to start building the skills and knowledge you’ll need in the future. Early preparation sets a strong foundation.
This is the advice that Prequel alum, Peyton Verhoeven, wished she had received when she started high school. "You are not too young to start gaining 'real world' experiences and don’t need a degree or wait a couple of years to get started on something you love." Gaining real-world experience in high school is invaluable.
It is also important to explore opportunities outside your high school from an early age. For example, Peyton built the Discovery Crate while still in high school. Discovery Crate supports local ethnic food stores by purchasing their products and packaging them into monthly international-themed snack boxes and delivering them right to customers' doors. Student entrepreneurship can start at any age.
Real-life experiences like that can be obtained at any age, and helped Peyton explore her love for startups alongside providing support to those in need.
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High School Tips: Focus on Meaningful Development
Put your heart and soul into anything you do, so that you can grow and develop. This is the advice that Fathima Shaikh, another Prequel alum, shares as the key piece of advice she wishes she knew. "Anything that you spend time and effort in, from an activity to a conversation, should focus on developing your mindset in some way," she writes. Prioritizing personal growth over mere resume-building is key.
This is a mistake that is often made in high school, where interests and sports are pursued based on what some believe will look good on college applications. "People, especially high schoolers, will do activities or spend time in organizations where they are doing work that isn’t inspiring or invigorating simply because it’ll look good on a college app or resume. They are putting themselves in positions to remain stagnant."
Fatima suggests doing the opposite: "Doing something that advances your mindset and outlook on life is a better way to spend your time and keep you constantly learning and pushing yourself to be the best." Authentic engagement leads to greater development.
Fatima advanced her mindset by joining Prequel's Summer Program, where she built DiverZe to help increase the representation of diverse individuals in influencer marketing strategies. Programs like Prequel help foster mindset shifts and skill-building for students.
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High School Tips: Productivity is King for Achieving Goals
Eva Amin, an alumna of Prequel's Summer Program, provides helpful advice on how to succeed in high school. She emphasizes that small steps taken consistently will add up to big success in the long run. "10 minutes of work is more productive than 5 hours of stressing over it," she writes. Consistent effort trumps procrastination for student productivity.
She provides other practical pieces of advice, such as making a to-do list, and focusing on taking classes and extracurricular activities you genuinely enjoy, instead of focusing on what you think will look good for college applications. To increase productivity, prioritization, goal-setting, and finding a routine are described as key. Effective time management and goal setting are crucial for high schoolers.
Eva also views emotional control and supportive friendships as great tools in a successful career. "Don’t feel like you have to have 10000 friends. 2 good friends are better than 10 low-quality friends." Quality relationships support overall well-being and success.
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High School Tips: Final Thoughts
High school is a critical time for students to explore their interests and build skills for life. We hope that the advice from our Prequel alumni will help equip you with the strategies needed to make the most out of your high school experience. With the right mindset and resources, you can unlock your potential and be ready for college and beyond. If you’re looking for more guidance on how to make the most of high school, check out Prequel's Summer Program and join us in unlocking your potential!