Surviving High School (Without Losing Your Mind)

KCT is a great place for high school students to volunteer whenever it fits their schedule. It is also a great place to connect with other students whom you wouldn’t normally meet. Our events invite fun conversations while also giving back to the community (and getting those volunteer hours). High school experiences are common ground for these conversations, and there’s nothing more comforting than finding people whom you can relate to. We want to bring these conversations and insights to our blog and maybe answer some of your questions along the way.

“I feel like everyone else is having fun and has no problem balancing life, homework, and everything else!”

I felt the same way. The first steps into high school were a ball of emotions for me: excitement, nerves, curiosity, and anticipation. From warming up to teachers and balancing fun and work, my first year in high school was filled with trial and error. That is a big part of high school that many students lose sight of. There will be lots of times in high school when you will feel lost and frustrated, but that is a special part of the experience. As a senior who’s been in your shoes, I’m here to share my favorite tips to ensure that you thrive in high school.

“High school is so monotonous! It’s starting to feel like a checklist day in and day out.”

I hear that a lot from freshmen after the first few months. High school is the perfect time to explore and discover what truly excites you. In your first two years, don’t focus too much on the end goal. Enjoy the beginning of your journey and say yes to new experiences, even if you’re unsure. Choose activities that genuinely interest you, this is your time to play and experiment. The moments that matter most are the ones that help you grow, and this realization helped me the most. When I first joined the forensics club, I had no idea what to expect. By my fifth meeting, I was kneeling by a plastic skeleton, measuring things like a professional. In the first two years of high school, play around, and when you find something that truly excites you, pursue it further and be consistent! This is how you can make profile building fun and a true reflection of your learning experience. 

“My stress is going up and up. How do you not get overwhelmed by everything?”

I would be lying if I said that high school was stress-free. There is a heavy workload and high expectations for the quality of work you produce. If I could go back and tell my 9th-grade self one thing, it would be to take more breaks. Taking breaks does not slow down your progress. I learned that the hard way, pushing myself to do as much as possible just to reach my goals. If everything feels overwhelming, step away for a while and do something else. It’s better to take a break, refresh yourself, and give your best than to work yourself to exhaustion just to finish a task. 

“I want to be involved, but I get nervous talking in front of people.”

If you are one of those kids who is scared to put their hand up in class or ask for help. You are not alone. The sheer thought of raising my hand and talking in class would make my hands shake profusely. I was scared that I would mess up and embarrass myself. I knew that I had to fix this, so I started small. I would ask the teacher whenever I needed help; this relieved the pressure of being judged. Then, when I felt more comfortable, I would participate more in table discussions and ask questions to 3-4 people. This helped me get used to talking to people and made me realize that trying to learn is not embarrassing, it’s admirable. Everyone at school is there to learn, and everyone does so in different ways. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, raise your hand, or make a fool of yourself, because it is all a part of learning.

Take a deep breath, we have got your back!

It’s perfectly fine, and natural, to feel nervous about high school. It is a big part of your education, and it can be daunting. My last and final tip is to have fun. Don’t let the weight of high school take away from your experience, because this is your time to figure out who you want to be, not just in terms of your career, but as a person. Keep an eye on this blog for more discussion about things we are all going through. And if you want to send me a question for a future blog, you can text me at 425-753-2861 – start your text with FOR VARSHA, or email me at editor@kidscomingtogether.org, and I’ll do my best to talk about it in a future blog post.

Talk to you soon!

Varsha Ganesh

KCT Blog Editor