By Shayna Blatt
As school heads into full motion, many of us become busy balancing our personal, academic, and extracurricular lives. However, if I could magically return to my freshman year, here are the steps I would take each year of high school to ensure balance, happiness, and success.
Freshman year: an exciting but difficult time filled with new experiences. New people and teachers surround you as you try to adapt to the Catalina lifestyle. It may seem good to take it easy this year, but actually, it is the perfect time to join many clubs as your future self would be happy that you have fulfilled many activities in high school (especially four years down the road for college applications). At the same time, I also wish I knew the importance of academics. Making a comeback after a semester of low grades is much harder than doing your best from the start! Enjoy this year because it is a time of transition for everyone.
Sophomore year: This is the first year harder classes are available for many students. While stacking your schedule is great, it is important to also think about your limits and goals for the year. Ask yourself before committing, how much time you have and what is most important to you. While many resources are available at Catalina, the biggest hurdle in learning is understanding that you must be proactive, plan ahead, and be self-sufficient in your study habits to truly understand the material and succeed. Often, sophomore year can be the hardest as milestones towards the end of high school seem far away, but remember, in the end, time will fly by!
Junior year: Notorious for being the most challenging year of high school; this truly depends on your perspective and the schedule you choose for yourself. Personally, for me, it was a year of good memories and excellent learning. While academic success may be at the forefront of your mind with looming ideas of college awaiting, remember not to stress. While this is easier said than done, it is important to keep a positive mindset and do your best. If I try my hardest, the outcome will most likely be positive. Similarly, you must be efficient. With many people telling you how hard they studied, try not to compare yourself to others. Make sure to take it easy, remember to be kind to friends, and realize the high school experience will soon end as senior year is just around the corner.
Senior year: Writing this as a senior, I cannot say or give advice for the unknown future. I know that getting on top of supplemental essays and college-related activities now will make for an easier year. Still, every person handles this time differently and procrastination is a reality for many. All I can say is that we must enjoy these moments until we have to take on the true responsibilities of adulthood.
At Catalina, we all have different high school experiences: some good and some okay and this is normal. Clearly, as students, we will all encounter challenges and periods of sadness and seemingly endless defeat. At these moments, I urge you to remember that months go by quickly and soon these times will be memories. Always cherish the fun and amazing things too as those memories allow us to keep moving forward.
LAMPLIGHTER 