Illini Advice What I Wish I Knew in High School

Illini Advice What I Wish I Knew in High School Our bloggers are wise college students who have been around the block and can look back with some perspective. So, we recently asked them, If you could have a conversation with the high school version of yourself, whats one piece of advice you would give? We hope their answers help as you continue to navigate the halls of high school. Taylor High school and life in general, to a degree, is what you make it. So spend the next 4 years being unapologetically you, discovering what makes you tick, and exploring what pushes you outside of your comfort zone. Make this time beneficial and enjoyable in every way possible, and remind yourself that youre amazing while doing it. Kate Everything really will be okay! Trust us. Franklin Dont try to cram your schedule with things you dont care aboutâ€"pick 1 or 2 extracurriculars that you love and stick to them! Success will come easy when youre doing something you enjoy, and its always better to pick quality over quantity. Rachel Be present, enjoy each second, and live in the moment. It sounds cliché, but these next 4 years, and the 4 after that, will go by faster than you can imagine. Jada High school is an alternate dimension where a lot of things that shouldnt matter do. So dont get too caught up in the weirdness of it all, college is wayyy cooler. Maaz Life doesn’t begin to get real until it gets realâ€"there’s no warning. The only way to prepare for the future is to live in the present with a mindset balanced by the scales of both reflection and gratitude. Be grateful for the life afforded to you, and turn that gratitude into a resolve for improving the state of affairs you see within yourself; only by improving ourselves can we hope to improve the world around us. Abby Dont ever be afraid to push yourself out of your comfort zone. If theres something youre interested in, try it out! Seize every opportunity to learn and grow; youll be surprised by some of the amazing doors that open up to you when you do. Luis Dont stress too much in high school! Dont slack off, but also dont be too hard on yourself. Hang out with friends, build relationships, and create memories that you will keep if and when you take off to college. Kripa The challenges you face, whether they be tough classes or personal struggles, face them with the right attitude! Put your head high, and know that you can overcome these obstacles and that you have friends and family who you can always rely on. Julissa Do anything and everything your heart desires! Dont let others hold you back from doing what you want; this is your life. Alex Things might not be the exact same as you imagined themâ€"and thats okay.Use these 4 years to embrace change and become comfortable with the unknown. Noah High school is the best time to explore what interests you. A lot of people get caught up in worrying about AP classes and GPA, and while thats still important, take the classes that you like! Make sure to have fun, take what you love, and learn about yourself. Zoe My favorite professor gave me this piece of simple but deeply useful advice: Always be completely and unapologetically yourself, especially in the presence of others. You are on the cusp of a transformative life stage. Be brave. Illinois Admissions We're here for you as you prepare for college. Whether you're looking for guidance on the college search process or have questions about Illinois, we hope our blogs will help!