Creazilla
What should I do if I have no idea what I want to do after high school?
Don’t worry! I know that is easier said than done, and it can be especially hard if you’re unsure of what you want at Seven Hills because so many people around you seem to have it all figured out. But if you try to force yourself down a certain path or put all this pressure on yourself, you will miss out on the opportunity to try new things, which could help you better understand what you want. And even if you think you know what you want, that will probably change, and that’s totally okay! Freshman year, I had a plan of what school I wanted to go to and what sorority I wanted to be in at that school and a whole idea of what I wanted my life to look like, but that all completely changed in the span of a few weeks. It’s about giving yourself the grace to discover what you want and explore different things without worrying about your “plan” or lack thereof.
I want to get a job this summer, but I’m 15 years old. Any suggestions?
It can be hard to get a job when you don’t have your license or are on the younger side, but there are definitely still ways to make money. I would suggest asking your neighbors about things like dog sitting, watering house plants, or nannying kids. Lots of people travel or are working during the day over the summer and need someone to watch their dogs. This is super low-maintenance and an easy way to make some money since you only have to let them out or feed them a few times a day. Watering plants is also easy because you may have to do it only once or twice a week. Nannying is a little bit more hands-on and can take more time and energy, but if you like the kids, I find it to be enjoyable. At 15, you can be a lifeguard, and I have had lots of friends who have done that and loved it.
What are the most useful electives to take in high school?
I think all electives are “useful” since they are a way to discover potential careers or majors. Even if an elective may seem less serious, like painting, you definitely will learn some other skills or lessons in that class, which may be applicable in other areas of your life. I would say that just based on important practical life knowledge, Economics and Entrepreneurship are the most useful. Economics not only provides a foundation of basic economic knowledge, but also teaches you really valuable things about savings, insurance, and college loans that are super important to know about as you head into adulthood. Entrepreneurship strengthens your problem-solving and creativity skills, which are important in any field, and gives valuable insight into what it is like to start and run a business. Rather than labeling electives as useful or not, I think the most useful thing would be to take things that push you and interest you because that is going to give you the most “useful” skills.
How do I balance taking fun classes with more practical ones?
I understand this struggle when building a schedule for Junior or Senior year when you are trying to beef yourself up for college applications, but I think there is definitely a way to strike a balance between what colleges want to see and what seems engaging to you. Ask your college counselors what classes they might recommend if you are trying to apply to a certain major because these will probably be fun for you if it is something you are interested in. It’s good to be a well-rounded student and take classes that maybe are a little different. School should be enjoyable and fun; don’t punish yourself and only take the most “practical” classes because I think you are just going to miss out on different opportunities and get burnt out quickly. Maybe add in one unique class a semester as it is a great way to grow both academically and personally.