Ready for high school? Find out why you should start writing this big chapter and how to get through it.
For many scholars high school rubs off a negative connotation. Excuses flow left, right and center from scholars’ mouths – ‘Aw mom, I don’t want to go to school,’ or ‘I won’t learn anything anyway, so I’ll just do my own thing,’ or maybe ‘High school sucks. Why am I here?’ Fair questions and statements guys, but it’s time to suck it up. High school isn’t for sissies and, coming from us, we know. Yes, we’ve also been there. But either way it’s a good way to become educated. I’ll explain why and how you can take the bull (a.k.a high school) by the horns further down the page. Yep, you should keep reading.
Transitioning to high school is a big step for many teenagers all over the world. Perhaps you haven’t managed to get to that stage yet (for whatever reason), but at a teenage age you still face some big decisions. Either you are pushing through high school, or you’re not in high school and doing something else with your life, or maybe you’re learning from home. Either way the progression into adulthood requires some decision-making from you and your parents, which in turn requires a lot of emotional, intellectual and, sometimes even, physical work. Many students struggle and many don’t even enjoy school at all. Why does it become such a problem? There are many reasons for this, some which I’ll break down in this article. Time to dream big, young one, and make those dreams a reality.
Why is school important?
Let’s start with the breaking question. People say education is important and desperately needed. But why is education important in the first place? Well, because we need game changers. We need growing minds to save the planet and to make a difference in this world. We need to be aware of the world around us, to be educated about how it works, about what is happening and how to solve existing problems. Education teaches us how to think and expands our understanding of this world and the people that live on it.
Former South African president and icon Nelson Mandela said
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
So, how can you use it to change the world you ask? High school shapes your journey into adulthood, prepares you for the ‘real world’ and helps you develop new skills. The idea is not purely to achieve good grades, but instead to really engage with the knowledge you are acquiring. Of course, in the end, you do want to make a point of working hard and getting good grades. So, don’t stop working now.
Your time at high school is a really special one where you can learn new skills, develop friendships, take part in extra mural activities and start making decisions. Make the most of your time at high school and get involved. Simple things like working in group projects with other people, learning to listen and taking different subjects helps you understand yourself better. Ultimately you get to explore what field you might potentially be interested in and what you want to do with your life.
Everyone is a teacher and a student
Check out what Kid President has to say about high school and what advice he has for students and teachers.
Knowing that you can make a difference is the biggest reason for you to consider working hard in high school. You can start now. Scholar or adult, you are here to make a difference in the world and you can. Of course, it’s obvious, you don’t necessarily need a high school education to make a difference but…we’d recommend it to help you become a superhero in your own way.
Here are some benefits why you should take on a high school education:
- Equips you with tools, skills and different perspectives to use in the long run
- Subjects in high school provide the groundwork to understand the world around you better
- Guidance and structure provide a safety net (Yay! Help)
How to beat the bull (a.k.a high school)
It’s simple, really. Time to take on your struggles and problems at school with two hands, firmly gripped, by the bull’s horns. Yep, essentially it’s easier said than done. But let’s start somewhere. Firstly, ask yourself:
- “What do I struggle with?”
- “How can I improve?”
- “What is the source of the problem?
- and, lastly, “How can I solve the problem?”
The beginning is always the hardest part. Once the light bulb switch is flicked in your growing mind and you’ve decided you want to make a change, you already have a good start.
Let’s look at some struggles you might be confronted with at high school and some possible solutions. Just a reminder that I haven’t covered all possible struggles, but here are a few that generally stand out.
When it comes to academics at school it’s quite important for you to understand the basics of a specific subject. Without the basics it becomes difficult to grasp the full meaning of the work. If you are a student who didn’t manage to nurture the groundwork for high school then you might face some struggles. Maybe your work pace is slower or you struggle to understand some concepts.
Possible solution: Ask for help
Chat to your teachers or mentors. What you may need is one-on-one guidance. Extra guidance isn’t shameful. Try to organise yourself a tutor and move forward by catching up on concepts you don’t understand. Receiving guidance from someone who knows the subject you are struggling with can help you a lot. Plus, the more time you spend practicing the work, the better your chances of understanding it.
School is important, but if you receive poor teaching, incorrect information or there aren’t available resources to prep for class, your education might be affected. What do you do? How do you know? Unfortunately many schools in the poorer areas of South Africa do not have access to resources needed to improve the standards of the education received. Maybe your school doesn’t have access to Internet or proper facilities for a library or opportunities to expand your knowledge further through other resources. This isn’t your fault. But you can take charge of your own education and move forward.
Possible solution: You are the master of your own education and your future
Learning can be done anywhere and it doesn’t have to be at school. Do the best you can. Embrace everything you learn and try to take it with a pinch of salt. Go to your closest local public library and educate yourself further through books, DVDs or anything else that might spark your interest. If you have access to the Internet, head on over to a computer or Internet cafe and do online courses.
Is productivity peaking and then creeping into a hole? We all know what it’s like to be unproductive and let distractions take over. Teachers words go in through the one side of the ear and out the other. Nothing is taken in. We’ve all been there at some point in our lives.
Intec College – Where second chances exist
If you don’t have a high school education, you’re dropping out, or you didn’t finish the qualification – it’s not the end of the world. Intec offers high school courses to scholars, students and adults who want to make up for what they missed out on. Not everyone finishes high school. Sometimes you have no say in the matter. Maybe you’re financially unable or something terrible happened that permitted you from continuing. In life there are so many reasons – it happens. Calm the storm.
Ask yourselves the following questions:
- Do you need a NSC qualification to get a job?
- Do you want to move up to higher positions in a company?
- Do you need to take care of your family?
- Do you need to earn a stable income?
With Intec’s high school courses you’ll have the option to finish the National Senior Certificate (NSC) if you need to. So if you are someone who is looking for a second chance to finish up your high school, head on over to Intec’s site.
Now that you have a glimpse into the world of a game changer, go ahead and figure out what and where you want to contribute to make a difference in this world. It starts with YOU. Go out there and get educated.
EduConnect 2cents
One tip from me: Try not to let unexpected circumstances push you down an unhealthy spiral. You can do anything you aspire towards. If you want to finish high school, then do that. If you want to work towards your goals, then do that. When it comes to gaining new knowledge it will always benefit you in some way. Here’s an article for you if you didn’t pass matric.
