Maddie's Top 5 Tips for Succeeding in High School

High School is rough; I'm not going to sugarcoat it. However, as a 2024 high school graduate, I feel inclined to give my advice to all the current high schoolers out there. From moving to a completely new state in 2020 (yep... the covid year 😒) to making the top 10% of my class, I know a thing or two about how to make the most out of high school- and succeed while doing it.

• Make relationships with your teachers 👩🏻‍🏫

  
  

  Naturally, I have formed relationships with my teachers since as long as I can remember (shoutout Mr. Schmidt). I have found that I have had so much success when my teachers know me personally. Although there is a line, forming relationships with your teachers is crucial. We have all had those times when we forgot a homework assignment at home, or when we were a tenth of a point away from getting an A for the semester. Well, when your teacher knows you, they are going to be sympathetic and willing to let you make a small mistake without severely hurting your grade or reputation.

  
  

• Forget the Aesthetics 👀

  
  

  This is a big one. As back to school approaches, I know your TikTok feed is completely bombarded with aesthetic notes and color coded supplies. I'm not going to lie, I too have been a victim of this aesthetic apocalypse. However, I'm here to tell you the facts. THIS IS A HUGE WASTE OF TIME! I don't care how organized you are, at the end of the school year YOU KNOW everything is just going to be thrown in your backpack. Plus, how often do you actually look back at your pretty, colorful notes and get anything valuable back? In the video below, I go over my favorite note taking method ⤵️⤵️

  
  

• Don't Be Afraid to Ask for Help 🙋🏻‍♀️

  
  

  I totally understand that it can be stressful to ask for help. I have diagnosed anxiety, so I have been the person who is too nervous to raise her hand. It wasn't easy, but I have now gotten to a place where participating and asking questions is actually fun for me. If your teacher is not "good" or you aren't grasping the material, there are online tutoring alternatives (such as Wyzant.com) that you can take advantage of. Of course, check with your parents first, and if you are in a position to hire a tutor- great! If not, you can always look on YouTube for explanation videos. I have found both methods to be super helpful!

• Study with Your Friends 👯

  
  

  If done correctly- that means no gossip breaks- studying with your friends is your best friend (no pun intended 😉). The reason why this is so helpful: you can combine your study skills and learn from each other. Plus, you have nothing to lose. If you need help, your friends can explain it to you. If your friends need help, you can explain it to them- which is actually scientifically proven to be one of the best study techniques. Who wouldn't want to use studying as an excuse to hang out with your besties?

  
  

• Make Up Tricks 👻

  
  

  This is my ALL-TIME FAVORITE tip. I am the queen of making tricks and parodies- and that is not self proclaimed. Last year, in AP Bio, I made an entire album as my review. That album helped me get a 4 on the exam! The reason why it worked: it was so random and funny that I couldn't forget it. Even something as simple as "AUG is the start codon and school starts in the month of Aug," can help. When one creates a mnemonic device, it actually stimulates pathways in the brain. Don't believe me? There are countless studies that support this statement. Make sure you are following us on Instagram, as some of these studies will be posted later on this month.

That concludes my top 5 tips for success in high school! I hope these tips come in handy for some of you! If you have any questions, don't be afraid to reach out to us here! Good luck this year! You guys are going to slay!

-Maddie 🩷