Advice Column

Freshman: Welcome to the great North Shore Hebrew Academy High school, home to the best faculty, staff, student body, clubs, sports teams, and extracurricular activities out there! If you haven’t already noticed, the student body is made up of very friendly people; get ready for an incredible four years. The following are some helpful tips to ensure your success: manage your time well, escape your comfort zone, socialize with your peers, and join clubs you find interesting. Don’t be afraid to ask questions in class and try your best to get to know your teachers; after all, you will be spending a lot of time with them. And, most importantly, smile, have fun, and make yourself at home. These four years will go by fast- enjoy the ride!

Sophomores: Welcome back. Things are looking very different this year compared to last year. While zoom was convenient at times, I think I can speak for the majority by saying, it's great to be back in person full time. Seeing your friends on a daily basis simply makes school so much more enjoyable. Now that you are back, challenge yourselves and get involved in leadership opportunities. Make sure to work hard and manage your time accordingly; this is very important when balancing work from nine classes and various extracurriculars. It will keep you stress free and on a good path. Of course, ensure that you make time for yourself, your family, and your friends. Do not allow your schoolwork to get in the way of this.

Juniors: This may be the hardest year yet as many of you are preparing for and taking ACT and SAT exams while also balancing multiple AP classes. As always, manage your time. Create a schedule. Do not panic. Do not procrastinate. Whenever possible, get a head start on your assignments. Don’t leave anything for the last minute. Work hard, achieve high grades in your classes, and maintain a good relationship with all your teachers; they will be the ones writing your college letters of recommendation. 11th grade is not a year for slackers. Make sure you are involved in extracurricular activities that are meaningful to you. Think about what colleges you are interested in and start your research. And, of course, don’t forget about your friends and family; make time for them too.

Seniors: While I am not a senior yet, my sister was last year, and she provided me with a lot of valuable advice. The beginning of your senior year, as you are experiencing now, is not easy. There is a lot of stress surrounding college admissions and the many deadlines you have to comply with. You will be working many late nights, but it will all be worth it once you receive the acceptance letter from your dream college. Familiarize yourself with the Common App and fill out all that is required. Make sure you know what schools you would like to apply to and begin working on the supplemental essays they require. Do not procrastinate. It will make your life much harder. Take full advantage of your college advisors and do as they say; they will become your new best friends. Once you get accepted into colleges, do not slack off. Work hard until the very end. Nothing is guaranteed. Lastly, as stressful as this whole college process may seem, just know that you will end up where you are supposed to be. There is a college for everyone. Take a deep breath and make the most of your senior year, your last year in high school.

Wishing everyone an amazing year ahead!