Fresh Advice

July 2006

It’s summer and students of all ages in Novi are enjoying their well-deserved vacation. They’re relaxing, or in the newest and coolest terminology chilaxing (a combination of chilling and relaxing). And while a majority of students don’t have to worry about making the move into their first year of high school, the class of 2010 has that task.

Having just “graduated” from middle school and attended Farewell, the class of 2010 or “oh ten” begins the years that count. I remember the summer before my freshman year, and I definitely recall some anxiety. Where would I fit in? What sports was I going to play? Would I be able to go to my beloved University of Michigan?

All those questions were faced with big fat question marks, and to be frank, the last one still hangs over my head. But with three years at Novi High School under my belt, I figured this would be as good a time as any to share some of the things that I believe have made high school the most enjoyable years of my young life.

The following are three pieces of advice that, if heeded, should make the transition, and subsequent years the best they can be.

#1- Get involved

I remember in the run-up to high school, the thing I kept hearing over and over again from high school administrators, counselors and parents of other high school kids was simple: get involved. And while at the time I didn’t think that that piece of advice was integral to high school prosperity, hindsight has proven otherwise.

It’s true that at times life can get hectic, but that’s the way it should be. Students should be overwhelmed with things that interest them. Getting involved merely to be involved isn’t the answer. Find something that you truly enjoy, and then join an activity related to it; even better, make a new club that covers that area.

Chances are that somewhere out in the sea of just under 2,000 students there’s somebody, or many other people, with the same passion.

Like to build things? Novi’s Robotics team has placed in the top few slots in the world the past two years. Have athletic aspirations? Practice up and join a sports team. Novi’s are feared throughout the KVC in most every sport. Like trivia? Join Quizbowl. Have a particular academic interest? There are clubs associated with most every subject area. Interested in music, TV or radio? There are opportunities in the broadcasting department.

#2- Do your homework

This second tip isn’t nearly as fun or easy as the first, but is equally, if not more important. Doing your homework accomplishes a number of things. First, it keeps your parents off your back.

Parents don’t like it when bad report cards come, but they have little sympathy when the reason for that is a lack of effort. Secondly, it keeps your teachers off your case. Any teacher at NHS will go to almost endless lengths to help you if you are struggling in their class. But if you’re not putting effort into at least completing the work they give you, there are often much less sympathetic, justifiably so.

Third, doing your homework let’s you enjoy class more. Yes, it’s work. And most of the time it isn’t fun. But doing your homework will make school more bearable. Dreading your 4th block class because you didn’t do an assignment will ruin your day.

Some may point out that oftentimes #1 and #2 conflict. I agree. Countless times I find myself balancing school with my outside activities. There are times something has to give. Those decisions are tough. But they are preparing me for the real world.

When my boss gives me three projects with time to do two, I have a much better idea of how I’ll approach the situation. As a rule of thumb, I put school first. But that doesn’t mean I’ll sacrifice all fun for the sake of learning

#3- Take classes you like

Class choice probably has the most direct impact on the day-to-day happiness of students as Novi. If kids are taking classes for any reason other than that they want to take it, bad things occur.

I’ll admit I have taken plenty of classes that I didn’t want to. But my underlying desire to get admitted to certain colleges has gotten me through it. For example, I really do not like math. It’s a personal preference. This has presented two challenges for me.

First, my aversion to selecting math classes has come in direct conflict with my desire to get admitted to certain universities. Second, the zeal with which I approach my social studies and broadcasting classes (because I like them) doesn’t exist when it comes to math.

In other words, most students perform better when they’re taking classes they like. That’s why I’ve nearly exhausted the broadcastings curriculum: I love the subject matter, and am always learning things that could be applicable to a future career.

Conclusion