High school is a stressful time—sometimes it can be so overwhelming that you’re not sure if you’ll make it. Luckily, Fatimata has some tips that will help ease some of the stress you’re feeling so you can make it through high school without completely breaking down.
Surviving high school
To-do lists (0:25)
Make sure you have an agenda or a piece of paper where you have a list of things you want to accomplish as the day goes on. Having that to-do list will help you prioritize what needs to get done and when.
Self-care (0:52)
As a high school student, you have a million things you need to get done in a day: clubs, sports, work, homework—it can be overwhelming. Make sure you carve out some time during the day to take care of yourself too! If you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t have the mental capacity to get everything done.
Focus on your passions (1:17)
Academics are super important, but so is finding your passion. In college, you’ll be studying in preparation for what you want to do for your career—what you want to do with your life. Explore things you’re passionate about now so you have a clear vision about what you might want to dedicate your life to.
Spend time with friends (1:51)
Life is about balance. You need to find time to spend with your friends and have fun too! Don’t forget to take some time away from all your work. Connecting with friends helps you grow your network, and hanging out with your friends doesn’t mean you can’t get stuff done. You could easily work together on homework or other things on your to-do list.
Communicate with your parents (2:24)
Yes, your college experience and the college search are about you. However, you should definitely include your parents in that conversation, because they want to see you succeed and watch you grow up to be who you are. Plus, they can be the best support system you have. Let them be people you can lean on.
Related: How to Discover (and Pursue) Your Passion
Finding scholarships in high school
How to find scholarships (3:23)
You can find scholarships in so many places! The internet is chock-full of scholarship opportunities. A simple Google search can return infinite results, your friends may post about scholarships on social media, and local companies advertise scholarships online too—you just have to start searching for scholarships.
Find scholarships that are important to you (3:51)
Fatimata wanted to make her community a better place, and she found a scholarship that would reward her for doing exactly that. If you’re involved in community service, or if you have a cause you’re involved in, look into what kinds of scholarships you can get for it.
Apply if it’s what you want (5:12)
Don’t discourage yourself from applying to any scholarships, colleges, jobs—anything. You never know what will happen, and you can’t get the things you want if you don’t reach for them.
Related: How to Turn Your Hobbies Into Scholarships
High school is an exciting and formative time in your life, so make sure you’re taking an active part in it by enjoying the time you have but also preparing for your future. Follow these tips for a smoother high school experience (and hopefully, some scholarship money along the way).
Look for scholarships you’ll want to apply for with our Scholarship Search tool.
