Staying Heathly in High School

Staying healthy while being in high school can be tough at times but here are some things you can do to keep you on track.

1)      Pack your own lunches. I know that Michelle Obama has tried to make lunches healthier in schools, but I still question their nutrition value. Or even if what I am eating is considered food. Packing your own lunch allows you to be able to control your own food. Pack some fruit and a sandwich and you are good to go.

2)      Join a sports team. It can be something as simple a bowling, but anything that will get you up and moving is good. We are usually stuck sitting all day at school then all night doing homework, so any bit of exercise you can fit in will be beneficial.

3)      Bring a water bottle with you to school. Instead of carrying around soda or coffee try bringing just plain old water. It will keep you hydrated throughout the day and will have way less sugar.

4)      Try to eat healthier snacks when you come home from school. Instead of grabbing the chips try going for fruit or a cheese stick. The same goes for any snack you bring to school with you. Usually the healthy snacks will give you more energy than the junk food anyways.

5)      Try not to stress too much. It is really unhealthy if you are constantly stressed out, so try to take time to calm down because chances are that you are probably overreacting.

Helpful Tip: The healthier you are the happier and better you will feel. I don’t really understand why but it works.

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The Role of Social Media

Social Media is playing a huge role in the daily life of us high school students. And it is not going away anytime soon. There is always a new site or app for us to post our thoughts and pictures on. We are always trying to connect to people and share with them who we are and what we are doing at this particular moment. Whether we are posting a new selfie on instagram or a status update on twitter, if we aren’t on the site we are thinking of what we will do next.

 Many of the conversations we have with one another start off by someone saying “did you read this on twitter?” or “did you see that on instagram?” We don’t realize it now but most of our social life revolves around social media. Here is a test, next time when you are with your friends try not to bring up twitter, instagram, vine, or facebook. I think it’s going to be harder than you thought. Or try doing a day without looking at those sights. Can you do it? I even find myself checking the social media sights instinctively without even thinking about it. We don’t realize how much time and emphasis we put on these sites. I am not saying they are bad, I am just pointing out the fact that we obsess over these things without even realizing it.

We are able to connect with people all over the world using these social media websites. You can become close friends with someone that you haven’t even met before. This is why our generation is more connected than any before it. I mean think about it, the computer didn’t become popular in everyday households until the 1980’s. That means we are some of the first people, ever, to have them around since we were young. We have integrated social media into our lives so much that we don’t even realize that there have been countless generations before us who got on just fine without it. If you say that you are good friends with someone who lives across the country and have never met in person most people today wouldn’t question you. But if you said that, merely 15 years ago, you would probably get some strange looks. I mean I have even heard of people getting engages over the internet without actually meeting.

Helpful Tip: The internet can be both exciting and dangerous. Be careful who you talk to, you don’t want to end up on the next season of Catfish.

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Surviving AP Human Geography

AP Human Geography was the first advanced placement class I had ever taken. I chose to take it freshman year because I wanted to get a feel of what AP classes were like and how they worked. I will admit it was a shock at first, but eventually I got used to it. I took the class two years ago but I still use what I learned in that class today in my current AP classes. Overall I think it was a great introductory course and it prepared me for what was to come.

The first thing I had to learn was to read with a purpose. Before, I thought I could just read the textbook and, if I understood it, be able to pass quizzes and tests. But, this class taught me that it takes a lot more than that. You have to pay attention to the details and try to remember the specifics as well as the overall concepts. This was a hard lesson because that meant the time it took me to read a chapter more than doubled and I had to spend hours every night reading. But, today I can read with a purpose in the same amount of time it takes to just read the textbook. It is a very important skill to have and it will make your other AP classes a lot easier if you have it.

The next thing I learned was I had to take advantage of every handout or study opportunity available. This meant every worksheet was filled out in complete detail and every class I took notes over what we cover. Yes, it took longer but at least I was prepared for those pop quizzes my teacher would throw at us. This also meant that once it got closer to taking the AP exam, I spent every lunch in her room studying with friends. So maybe sometimes it was more talking than studying but we still did review sometimes. But, my point is that learning how to take AP classes is hard and it takes up a lot of your time at first. But, later you will know how and be able to do things more efficiently and in less time.

The third thing AP Human Geography taught me is that nothing is as complicated as it seems at first. If you look at other materials, ask your teachers for help, or just reread the section in your book you can understand it. It might take some time, but it will make sense eventually. But you do need to put in the effort to understand the complicated concepts because that is probably what you will be tested over. Those will be the things that separate the people who will excel in the class from the people who might fail.

Helpful Tip: You need to stay up on your work. The teacher is not going to stop giving out homework each night, so the more you get behind the worse it is going to be to get caught back up. I know most people will recommend sleep over studying but, if you can, finish your homework. You won’t regret it later.

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Taking the PSATs

The main point of the PSATS is to try for the national merit scholarship program. I don’t think colleges will pay too much attention you your score on these, they will probably focus more on the ACTs and the SATs. So my point is there is no need to stress too much. It gets you out of school and gives you a chance to earn a lot of money for college. A win, win situation.

So what does the PSATs test you on? There are two math sections, two reading sections, and a writing section. Overall I think the test is easier than the ACT and I have heard from friends that it was easier than the SAT as well. The vocabulary, however, seemed particularly more advanced than the rest of the test, so if you study, I recommend focusing on that. In the writing section they will mostly test you on grammar and punctuation.  Math is a lot of algebra and geometry, and reading is mostly comprehension.

What should you bring to the PSATs? You won’t need much just your ID, pencils, and a calculator. You will only get short breaks in between tests so there is not reason to bring anything else.

How much should you study? Of course I recommend studying the packet they give you if you have the time. I wish I would have studied a little more than I did, especially vocabulary and grammar, but it is not completely necessary. Most of the test is over things that I have learned a long time ago. I didn’t study at all and I survived. There is no reason to stress over this or stay up way too studying. You will probably do just fine.

What are your chances of getting the scholarship? Well, the top three to five percent of the people in your state will get the scholarship. If you do well in normal standardized testing then I think you should give the PSATs a shot. However it is going to be highly selective and difficult to achieve. But, it would be worth the twenty bucks if you do get the national merit scholarship.

How long do the PSATs take? I was instructed to be at my testing facility by 7:45 and I was done by 11:00. So compared to the ACTs it is actually pretty short. It will get you out of your morning classes with some time left for lunch.

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Your guide to Note Taking

Note taking is an important tool to surviving high school. Even if you don’t think you need to take them right now, you will sooner or later. Contrary to what most people think, I believe that you don’t need to go back and reread your notes if you don’t need to. Simply the act of writing down the information will make it easier to recall it later. Do not ask me why or how but trust me, it works. The most important thing to remember, however, is that everybody learns differently. So not everybody’s notes are going to be the same or written in the same style. But it is important to note that there are different styles to choose from.

Finding and using the style that works best for you is the only way you will benefit at all from writing things down. If the notes don’t make sense, then you won’t be able to use them. Even if your teacher has an assigned method, I recommend taking your own notes first then transferring it over. It can be more work but it will be worth it.

There are many different styles of note taking and I don’t think one is particularly better than the other. Some like to create webs in which the central topic is in the center of the page and supporting details/ ideas surround it. I know people who love using this method because they think it organizes things better for them. For me, I can never get the spacing right and my webs end up looking like a big mess. But I think it is great if this method work for you.

My style of note taking is mostly just bullet points. But when o have enough time, I do like to color code my notes: one color for topic headings, one for vocabulary words, and one for extra important information. I have no idea why, but it helps me to be able to recall information more efficiently.

Try not to write down things you see word for word. Try to make sure you understand it and, if you can, rewrite the information in your own words. Understanding the concept now will be a lot easier than trying to later when reviewing your notes.

Helpful Tip:  Keeping your notes organized is a must. Trying to decipher your own notes when trying to study does not work, believe me.

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Surviving AP European History

AP European History was one of the harder AP classes that I have taken. Probably because I am more of a math and science kind of person, but I did learn some tips for surviving the class.

1)      Take thorough notes. I found out that things that seem unimportant can actually turn up on quizzes and tests. So, make sure you pay attention to details and ask you teacher what you need to know.  

2)      There are a lot of people you are going to keep track of, and some of them even have the same name. So, come up with a system that will help you remember their stories. For me I wrote out all of the important details of that person’s life and a friend of mine drew comic strips of the events. Whatever will help you to understand the complex relationships between important people in history.

3)      Similar to people, there are a lot of complicated events that you will have to know and be able to analyze. You are going to need to know: who was involved and what they did, what effect did this have on the society, and the impact that it would have on the future. You are also going to need a system that will help you keep track of all the events along with the people.

4)       Trust your instincts. On tests some of the questions will be tricky, but you just have to go with your gut. Usually the question is not as tricky as you think.

5)      If your textbook is anything like mine, it is SUPER hard to understand. So, I recommend going online and listening to other teachers lecture. If you just go to youtube and type in the subject you need, there will be many videos you can choose from. My recommendations would be the lectures from John Green‘s crash course videos and a teacher named Tom Richey. (I will link to both of their channels at the end of this post.) The good thing about watching lectures online is you can watch them over and over until you can fully understand the concept.

6)      You are going to need to stay on top of your work. There is a lot of things to learn in not a lot of time to do so. Chances are that your class is going to be pretty fast paced, so it will not be good if you get behind.

 

Tom Richey’s Chanel: https://www.youtube.com/user/tomforamerica

John Green’s Crash Course: https://www.youtube.com/user/crashcourse

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Teachers Giving Lectures Online - A Review

Throughout my years in high school I have had a few teachers record lectures and put them online, then give us homework of watching them. I have a feeling that in the future more teachers will also move towards this opposite teaching style. I have heard from my classmates both ways: some like it, some hate it. Personally, I am not a fan of this style of teaching but, like everything there are some benefits.

First off, I think we all know that I am a master procrastinator and easily get distracted while trying to do my homework. So giving twenty to thirty minute lectures as homework, is probably not the smartest idea. I cannot tell you the number of times I have fallen asleep within the first five minutes of turning the video on. I would rather get a worksheet that is easy enough to work through.

Also, with these videos I usually have to watch the video or certain sections of it two or three times to understand it. This just adds on to the time it takes to get through it. I think it would be easier to have the teacher lecture in class so that I could ask questions if I needed to. And usually with more time in class teachers will explain concepts more clearly and make it way easier to understand. I know I am just supposed to ask questions in class the next day, but we all know that I am just too lazy for that.

I do like, however, the fact that we get more practice in class. Especially if it is a math class I think it is beneficial to use the class to practice the concepts. Then you can get help with the complicated problems instead of spending extra time at night trying to figure it out. Because let’s face it, you probably won’t figure it out and have to ask about it the next day in class anyway.

I don’t know if one teaching style is particularly better than another, but I am not a fan of this particular one.

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How to Surive AP Biology

Last year I was in two AP classes, AP biology and AP European history. Many of my classmates say that AP biology is one of the hardest ones to take. Throughout the year I picked up a few tips that will make it a whole lot easier and less stressful.

First, make sure to read your textbook. I know it may not be the most entertaining material to read but it is not as hard as other textbooks. It won’t take nearly as long as you think and it will give you all the information you need to pass the class. But when you do read, it is okay to skim the chapters you already know about. If you are taking this class I am assuming it is not your first ever science class, which means you already know the basics. Trust me, you do not need to waste even more of your time scrutinizing the chapters that you already know. Focus on the new stuff because that is what you will be tested over and is harder to learn.

Next, if your teacher gives them to you, do the guided readings. It will keep you focused while reading and give you an idea of what the important ideas are of the chapter. Plus, usually they are easy bonus points you could add to the grade book. Then right before the test, look them over because if you filled them out correctly, they will give you all of the answers. Try to fill them out as well as you can while you are reading and ask your teacher for help if you don’t understand something. It is way easier to learn the material as you read or listen to lectures in class rather than the night before an important exam.

Make sure to look at the pictures in the textbook. I mean really look at them not just glancing at it and getting the “gist” of it. This means reading every little word or caption that comes along with it. Pictures are a great tool to help you understand important concepts that could otherwise be very confusing.

If you don’t know everything, it’s okay. I noticed on the AP exam that they mostly tested you on critical thinking rather than recalling information. So, basically just know the main ideas because usually they will give you the information that you have to synthesize. Now, this could be either good or bad depending on who you are. So adjust accordingly.

Helpful hint: Trust yourself. Sometimes the answer is so simple that it seems wrong. Don’t let the easy questions trip you up; usually your instincts are correct.

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The Key To Multiple Choice Tests

First off that this is not a post that condones not studying for a test. It really is best to actually know the information rather than relying on chances, you will do much better. But in case there is a question that you have absolutely no idea what the answer is here are a few tips that could increase your chances of getting it right.

1)      If you have any instincts to what the right answer might be, go with that one. It might be your subconscious trying to tell you something.  Usually your instincts are right so always go with it.

2)      If it is a complicated question and there is an answer that is especially longer than the others, typically that is the right one. For instance if all of the options are just one word except one that is two sentences, pick the answer that is two sentences.  Unless obviously wrong, it is probably the right answer.

3)      Use other questions on the test to give you clues. Sometimes an answer to one question will give you the answer to another. Or, in one question there will be a statement that gives you the answer to another. This is why you should circle the questions you are unsure about and comeback to them once you have completed the rest of the test. Plus, sometimes all you need is some time to think or reason through the question.

4)      Don’t spend too much time on the questions you don’t know. The last thing you want is to run out of time because you couldn’t figure out the answer to one question. I know its hard but you have to move past it and answer the questions that you do know the answers to. You don’t want to flunk the test because of one stupid question.

5)      We have all heard the trick that C is the most common answer on the test. Well, there has to be come logic to that. So if you are in a situation where you have absolutely no idea so it really doesn’t matter what option you pick, I would go with C. I mean there has to be some truth to that statistic right?

Helpful tip: If you can’t recall the information right away. Give it a minute, sometimes even the most random bits of knowledge can come back to you. Or sometimes you can even reason through it to find an answer that may not be 100% correct but it might be close.

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How to Walk In the Hallway

The fact that I even have to write this is really annoying. As an upperclassman I am here to tell you what is and isn’t okay when walking through the hallway on between classes. As much as I hate to say this, I am not making this up. I am saying this from my own personal experiences. I know that not everyone out there does things like what I am about to tell you, but still pay attention. Not to generalize a class, but usually it is freshmen who are the culprits of these dumb acts.

1)      I am all for socializing and talking with your friends in between classes. I think it’s fine, especially when that is the only time you get to see them. But, what is not okay is taking up the entire hallway with your little gang of friends. I cannot tell you the amount of times I have had to shove my way through a clump of freshman to get to class. I don’t care if you think it’s rude of me, its rude of you to completely take up a busy hallway just to talk with your friends.

2)      When walking to class, please keep walking. If you are in a stream of people walking through the hallway, do not just suddenly stop right it front of me. I will shove you out of the way because I really don’t care if you see your friend on the other side of the foyer and just have to say hi to them. If you want to talk to them, get out of the line so the rest of us can pass by without running into you.

3)      Another thing when walking to class, try to pay attention to where your class is. Many times I have been walking to class in a busy hallway and the person in front of me not only stops abruptly but, turns around and starts walking in the other direction to get the classroom that we just passed. I mean seriously, what do you expect me to do, there is probably fifty people behind me and we all have to stop and probably run into each other because you couldn’t pay attention enough to know where your own classroom is.

I am sorry if this post sounded like a rant but I am tired of running into people when trying to get to class. When our hallways are this crowded, you can’t just do whatever you want and block people. You will probably get run over by an upperclassman like me.

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What To Keep In Your Locker

I don’t know about you, but I don’t really use my locker that much. My school is so big that I hardly have time to go to it in between classes. But, I know that other people do use their locker more than I do. So, if I actually used my locker here is what I would keep in it:

1)      Heavy textbooks. I know most classes will either have an online version or a copy of the textbook that you can keep at home. But, there is always one or two classes that require you to carry your book around with you. This is when the locker would come in handy, just keep it in there until you need it that day , so that you don’t have to carry it around with you.

2)      My binders for classes that are after lunch. At my school, we have four classes before lunch, and two after. I would keep all of my materials that are required for those last two classes in my locker during the morning and switch them out during lunch break. This way you are not carrying around extra weight that you don’t need to be.

3)      Pictures of my friends. I probably wouldn’t go all out with wallpaper or one of those stick on chandeliers, but I do think it would be fun to keep pictures of your friends in there with fun magnets.

4)      An extra change of clothes. This is in case you spill something on yourself at lunch. You can just change your clothes in the bathroom so you don’t have to walk around the rest of the day with food all over yourself. Trust me, this can be a lifesaver. Also, if for some reason your school decided to be really cold that day, you will always have a sweatshirt you can put on.

5)      Extra pencils and pens. Okay, I don’t know if this is just me but, I tend to lose my pencils. I don’t know how, but they just tend to disappear on me. So keeping extras in your locker would be helpful. This way you are not that annoying person who always has to ask for a pencil every single day.

6)      Winter coats. Where I live, our winters can be brutally cold. I have to wear big puffy coats to school so I don’t freeze to death walking in and out of school every day. I really don’t want to carry this around with me, so I keep it in my locker.

7)      Hair ties. I have long hair, and sometimes it can get quite annoying. Right now I usually have to keep them on my wrist, but sometimes they can be too tight and really annoying during class. But, if I were to use my locker I would definitely keep some extras in there.

8)      An extra phone charger. I don’t know if your teachers will allow you to charge your phone in their classroom, but if they do I would recommend keeping an extra charger in your locker. Because I know, that sometimes it is easy to forget to charge your phone at night and you don’t want it dying on you in the middle of the day.

Helpful Tip: I would also keep gum or mints in my locker to freshen my breath after lunch.

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Spirit Days!

You know what they are, every school has them, it’s a day where students dress in the craziest outfits they can possibly find. Spirit Days like homecoming or prom, is another one of those occasions unique to high school. Some choose to go all out, by completely covering their entire body with your school color, others choose not to participate at all. Then there are other types of spirit days, where you just wear things of a certain given topic. For example on America day, you might wear a bandanna or a shirt with a giant American flag on it.

Homecoming week is a whole five days dedicated to spirit days. The topics can range from simply wearing your school colors, to having to dress up like superheroes. I don’t know about you, but I usually don’t personally participate in these (probably because I am just too lazy), but I do enjoy seeing the different outfits people put together. It makes class a little more interesting when you have Captain America sitting in front of you. I try to wear one of my many school t-shirts though on spirit days that just require school apparel.

If you are going to go all out, I highly suggest doing it with all of your friends. That way if you dress up, you will have great pictures to show. I mean how often do you get to dress up like Disney Princesses with all of your friends? Or like your favorite TV show characters? Or wear your pajamas to school? Probably not as often as you would like. But, don’t feel bad if you choose not to participate because I am right there with you. I prefer watching the craziness rather than joining in on it.

I think spirit days are fun and a great way to make your day just a little more interesting. In a strange way, it sort of unites the school. As its name implies, it really does lift school spirit and gives the student body a sense of pride. We all want to think our school is the best, and spirit days accentuate that. It can bring out school pride in even the most pessimistic person.

Helpful Tip: If you really want to make an impact with your costume, I suggest going all out. Make sure that nearly every inch of your body is covered with the spirit day subject. It needs to be like you re dressing up to go trick or treating on Halloween when you were five years old.

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