Because “success” is a fairly subjective concept, it can be difficult to define. Success for you might mean winning Homecoming King, while for your friend, it could mean passing all classes with at least a B. For other students it might mean getting the lead in the school play or graduating as Valedictorian.

Whatever success looks like for you, here are a few tips that will help you do your best to triumph during your high school career.

1.     Manage Your Time

One skill that will carry over into adulthood, including college and employment, is that of time management. Often, we feel like there isn’t enough time in the day when in reality, we just aren’t using that time to the fullest.

If this is something you struggle with, try setting up a daily schedule that includes everything from mealtimes, and study hours to time for extracurricular activities. When you see all the things you need to accomplish and make a plan for doing it, you’ll find that there is often more than enough time in the day. As a bonus, you’ll even enjoy your free time more instead of feeling bored.

2.     Find a Hobby

As any college application will remind you, it’s important to be well-rounded, and this means finding a hobby or extracurricular activity. The most important part of this is finding something that you really love doing, or really want to try out. Interested in music? Why not check out the school band? Love taking selfies? Check out that photography class your school offers.

When you find something you’re passionate about, you’ll not only gain skills, but you’ll have extra motivation to get up every morning and head to school. Plus, you might even find a future career interest!

3.     Take Care of Your Physical and Mental Health

It’s easy to get caught up in classes, tests, projects, and college applications, but don’t forget that if you aren’t healthy, school will be much harder for you. Make sure you are getting enough sleep each night (about 9 hours is recommended for teens), eating healthy foods, and drinking a lot of water. If you aren’t taking PE or sports, make sure you get a bit of exercise in each day, especially since you’re sitting in classrooms most of the day. Taking care of your physical health will also help mitigate school- or social life-related anxiety, depression, or worry. If needed, talk to your school counselor or parents to communicate any issues.

4.     Talk with Teachers

If you’re not good at math, your math teacher should become your best friend. Ok, we exaggerate a little, but communicating with teachers is hugely important. If you’re struggling with the material, ask if you can get some extra help after school. If you have problems at home that prevent you from being able to do homework, let your teacher know. If there are personal problems, you need not reveal all the details, but letting your teacher know that you are trying to do the work and need a little extra help can go a long way. Most teachers will work with students if they know in advance that there might be issues with a specific assignment or project.

5.     Know How You’re Doing

Instead of waiting until report card time or the end of the semester, stay on top of your grades. If your school has an online grading system, make sure you check this regularly. You can find out your current GPA by inputting information into this calculator, so you know how you’re doing, which will help you know how well you must do on upcoming exams, especially if the grades are weighted by percentage.

Concluding Thoughts

The academic demands on high school students are always getting tougher, it seems. However, by following the above tips, you’ll be certain to experience success in your high school career, whatever that may look like for you.