High school is an important time in life when many of the paths we take begin to materialize. Educational decisions made during this time can be critical in determining future success and happiness. Although there is no single formula for attaining a fulfilling life, successful people tend to share certain personality traits that enable them to achieve their goals and dreams, according to experts like Victor Restis.
The article below shares eight skills every high school student should have before graduating.
1. How to study
Students need to develop the discipline to identify their learning styles by discovering how they retain information best and studying in ways that work for them. For example, visual learners may benefit from watching a lecture rather than reading notes or listening in a classroom discussion, whereas auditory learners may prefer to listen or read.
2. How to prioritize and manage time effectively
Time management skills are essential tools for both success in high school and beyond. Listing daily tasks, establishing a routine, prioritizing assignments, assigning time limits to specific tasks, or studying blocks are all beneficial strategies.
3. How to make decisions
Impulse control is one of the most important skills for making good choices throughout life. In their early high school years, students can learn impulse control by practicing hard decisions, such as what electives to take. The ability to resist temptation and think through the potential consequences of choices can be developed throughout high school.
4. How to build relationships with teachers
Over time, students should realize that their teachers are people too. For many students, this becomes clear when they see teachers outside of the school environment, perhaps at professional conferences or school sports events. Learning to treat people with respect and dignity is something that will last a lifetime.
5. How to manage emotions
The ability to regulate emotions affects all kinds of relationships and social interactions—in personal life as well as in academic settings. Consider ways to build emotional intelligence through mindfulness practices, meditation, journaling, self-talk, positive thinking, exercise, or practicing healthy habits.
6. How to learn from mistakes
Everyone makes bad choices now and then, but not everyone learns from them. For example, it can be difficult for students who generally get good grades to admit they were wrong when they made bad decisions on an exam or missed a key assignment. However, it is much better to admit when a mistake has been made and take responsibility rather than continue down a path that could cause larger problems.
7. How to ask for help/support
Asking for help can be difficult, especially in high school, when students may already feel overwhelmed by the day-to-day pressures of academics and extracurricular activities. Over time, most students discover that understanding their own feelings can make them more comfortable with asking for support from family members or friends. In addition, learning to articulate how they feel helps students explain what kind of support they need from others without feeling frustrated by a lack of understanding.
8. How to set goals
Many students let their daily schedule dictate what happens next rather than taking an active role in deciding which activities or tasks to pursue next. Setting goals can provide motivation when completing academic requirements gets tedious, and life’s challenges feel overwhelming at times. It is important not just setting long-term goals but also smaller steps toward achieving them every day.
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