Month: September 2019

Let’s Talk: Feeling Lost and Confused

BrookeLeave a comment

Good morning, lovely readers!

Now that we are officially in the month of September and school is in full swing, the carefree summer attitude slips away. Tests and homework pile up, calendars are full, and students’ brains are jam-packed with both knowledge and stress. All of the responsibilities we take on as high-schoolers start to weigh us down, and we question why we agreed to doing any of this in the first place. It’s confusing and disheartening at times, but this feeling of being lost CAN be beat.

I’ve always been an overthinker and I’ve had many mini existential crises, so I tend to question my general purpose in life a lot. Add that to the general growing pains in high school where you’re trying to discover who you are, and you get one confused girl. However, I’ve come to realize I’m not the only one- we’re all in an awkward stage (and I’m not talking puberty or looks-wise, just a weird time in life). Some people seem to know what they’re passionate about and what they want to do in the future, and others have no clue. Whatever pace you’re moving at, just have faith in the universe and know that it will eventually fall into place.

Since summertime, I’ve really put a lot of (blind?) faith in the universe. I’ve tried to use the Law of Attraction after being inspired by multiple YouTubers and the documentary The Secret and it’s been successful in a lot of ways, but I’m still not the most positive person… that’s another story. I’m not sure how much it has impacted my life, but a lot of wonderful opportunities have recently been available to me, so I guess that could be one of the reasons. It hasn’t completely changed my life, but it’s important to put that positive energy out there and welcome the idea of things coming into your life.

One of the biggest things that’s helped me the past couple months was simply acceptance. Accepting that I don’t have a strong passion yet, that I don’t know what I want to do with my life, that I’m not perfect, and being okay with these things among more. We often expect too much of ourselves; I now know when to step back and say, “Brooke, you’re doing just fine.” I spent most of my freshman year stressing about what I thought I should be doing for my future and everything I thought I was doing wrong. Did it help me in the end? No! It taught me a lot, but it wasn’t necessary. This year, I aim to do more things I enjoy and get involved in things that make me happy; hopefully, I’ll be a bit less stressed.

Lastly, if you’re feeling lost and alone: talk about it! I promise other people relate, so connect with them about it. If you would rather express your feelings another way, write about it or make some form of art. Keep a journal, make a sketch, whatever. I like to write in general so this has been a great outlet for me, but I think anyone can benefit from it. Above all, know that you’re not alone and things are going to work out.

I hope this was relatable for some of you guys, and hopefully gave you some comfort that you’re never alone. This is a weird time in our lives, but it’s important that we make the best of it and enjoy it while we can. I’m always here to answer questions and take requests for future content, so stay tuned for new posts coming soon!

-Brooke

Why You Should Get Involved in High School

BrookeLeave a comment

Welcome back everyone!

It’s around that time where you will be signing up for new activities such as clubs, sports, and more; it’s important to do so and take advantage of these opportunities. If you’re a freshman just beginning your high school career, even better! I wish I had stepped out of my comfort zone more as a freshman and signed up for more activities that I was interested in. I was somewhat involved in my school last year as a member of the cheer team, CSF, and Key Club, but there were quite a few more clubs and activities that I was too scared to actually join.

Beyond having something to put on your resume or college application, joining school activities can enhance your overall high school experience. It makes you feel more significant as a part of the community, it keeps you busy (but in a fun way, unlike homework!), and introduces you to lots of new people. I know it can be daunting to go to a club meeting or something of the sort by yourself and not knowing how it will go, but it’s so worth it to try out some new things and see if you end up liking them. It’s better to give it a try now and determine if you like it or not than regret never doing it later; plus, it’s better to do things while you’re young and still have so many options available to you!

Encourage your friends that aren’t already involved in activities to go to a club rush or a similar event with you, and you can sign up for one or two things together. It might be easier to jump into something new if there’s a friend by your side. Furthermore, if you have friends that are involved in certain activities or clubs and really like it, ask them if you can tag along to a meeting and possibly join the activity. You’ll have a veteran to show you the ropes and give you an idea of what it’s really like to be a member.

I think if you’re an involved student at your high school, you’ll feel much more comfortable throughout the years you spend there. You’ll get used to spending a lot of time on campus, you’ll get to know the faculty better, you’ll meet more people than you would just from your classes, and you’ll find your own mini community within the school. This is so important, especially if you go to a big (and fairly competitive) public school like me where it’s easy to feel insignificant and disposable. Taking part in a club or activity you love gives you a little extra purpose than just suffering through the same homework as everyone else.

Lastly, it prepares you for adult life. You gain certain work skills through doing these sorts of things outside of the classroom; your communication skills will improve, along with dealing with people/collaboration skills and possibly leadership skills or even public speaking skills. There’s so much to gain from getting involved in different activities, and it will overall prepare you for college and eventually having a job in ways that a standard academic class may not.

I hope this gave you a better understanding of why you should get involved in activities at your school. It’s something I’m still working on too since I can be very shy and afraid of stepping out of my comfort zone; I’m a little late to the party with joining clubs and such, but you don’t have to be! I’m always here to answer questions and take requests for future content. Let me know if there’s any super cool or unique extracurricular activities you do- I would love to know.

-Brooke

How to Start Your College Spreadsheet

BrookeLeave a comment

Hello everyone!

I recently wrote a post on beginning my college search, and I realized there was one thing I could’ve elaborated on more. When you’re starting to find colleges that you’re interested in, you’ll want to create a form of list where you can keep track of them and their information. I think the best way to do this for most people is to create a spreadsheet. This spreadsheet can be very large (I know mine is right now!) when you’re first beginning to look at different schools, but it will shrink down as you go through high school and get closer to actually applying.

  • Determine what platform you’ll use – I personally used Microsoft Excel for mine, but Google Sheets also works great. I would recommend either of these, but use whatever works best for you.
  • Do some surface-level research to start – It’s totally fine to just put down the main schools you’re familiar with at first, or schools that your family members went to. Start by looking up schools near you, then starting to weigh options such as out-of-state vs. in-state or research universities vs. liberal arts schools. You’ll start to get an idea of the different things to look for in a college.
  • Look up rankings of schools (**based on programs/majors you’re interested in!!) – Obviously you never want to make a choice based solely on rankings, but looking at these long lists of schools can help you discover some that you’ve never heard of. I also recommend only looking at rankings that are specifically geared towards certain programs/majors, since that’s what you’ll actually attend the school for.
  • Use tools such as Naviance or College Board’s college search tool – Similar to looking at rankings, these tools can help you discover schools that you wouldn’t otherwise. You can put in certain criteria in lots of different categories and start to file down to colleges that have it all (almost!). There are tons of websites that do this out there, but I think Naviance and the College Board search are the most popular ones.
  • Come up with categories of info you want on your spreadsheet – When you actually make your spreadsheet, you’re not just going to want to have a list of school names. For example, on mine I have the location (city, state), if it’s a state school or private school, if it’s a research school or a liberal arts school, if they have Greek life or not, and if they have some sort of honors college/program or not. Whatever your priorities are that you put into the search tools online, put these in the spreadsheet.
  • Input everything and add or subtract schools as you go through high school – As you get closer to senior year you will be able to eliminate a lot of choices, and get a better idea of what you want in a school. If you can, visit your top choices from your list and/or talk to students who attend them about their experience.
  • Sign up for the mailing lists of the schools on your spreadsheet – I wrote a post, “How to Get Mail From Colleges”, about this a while ago, so go check that out if you haven’t already! I suggest doing this because you will get brochures and emails about all of the colleges, which provides more information and gives you a better feel for the school. Be warned: your inbox may get spammed.

I hope this helped you guys out and encourages you to get started on your own college search. Remember, it’s completely fine to start out small and not knowing what you want- that’s natural, especially if you’re not an upperclassman. As always, I’m here to answer questions and take requests for future content!

-Brooke

Being a High School Athlete – My Experience

BrookeLeave a comment

Welcome back everyone!

Football season is in full swing, which means my cheer season is as well. I figured I would write another post about my experience doing a high school sport, but in a more general form than I have in the past. I’ve written about doing high school cheer specifically, but not as much about just being a high school athlete in a way that could relate to any sport. I know some people don’t consider cheer a sport and it definitely has a different structure than most so take all of this with a grain of salt, but I still think it can help you out if you’re wondering what it’s like to do sports in school.

For a little background, I am currently a sophomore on my school’s JV sideline cheer team, meaning I cheer at all JV football and basketball games. I was on the team last year as well, so this is my second year doing a high school sport. I go to a public high school that has good sports for our area, but is not a major sports school. There are a few highly ranked football players and track athletes, but that’s mainly it. As I mentioned, I’ve posted other articles about cheer; I have a High School Cheer Q&A and a couple other posts about it, so go check those out if you haven’t already! And if you’re interested in the more general things to know about being a high school athlete, keep reading.

  • There will usually be a very interesting mix of people on the team – You have the people who have been playing this sport since they could walk, the people doing it because their friends signed up, the people who just want PE credit, the people forced into it by their parents, and the people who just wanted to try something new. If your team is super competitive and small you might not have this mix, but I find with any larger teams or not as elite teams, you definitely have a few of each of these types of athletes. It makes for a more interesting team though, so don’t be discouraged either way.
  • Coaches are not the best or the most understanding, and they often quit/get fired/etc. – Again, if you go to a huge sports school or have long-respected coaches this may not be true. At my school, coaches usually last a few years maximum and are known for being unnecessarily harsh and unorganized. It makes you stronger and more self-sufficient in the end, so just power through and try to ignore their craziness.
  • Being a 4-year athlete is a big deal since not many people stick it out – In the state of California (maybe other states, not sure?) you need two years worth of athletic credit to graduate high school. Lots of people quit after that, usually in time for junior year since sports are such a big time commitment and junior year is super busy. Because of this, the people who really love their sport and stick it out all four years are regarded very highly. If you think you’ll be one of these people, look forward to lots of senior privileges!
  • The distinction between frosh/soph, JV, and varsity can be odd depending on how your school does tryouts and selection – At my school, some sports will let anyone on but then only let the best on varsity, some sports divide teams strictly by grade level and not skill, and some sports have very small and competitive teams where not many people make it on. Depending on how competitive your school’s sports programs are and how many people are interested in playing sports, it may be harder or easier to make a certain level.
  • Conditioning is rough – All coaches will make their teams condition. It’s just a fact. However, high school athletics practices are usually during the afternoon… the hottest part of the day. Whenever running and conditioning is involved, it will be so much harder in the heat. This might not be an issue if you live somewhere colder and you’re in a winter sport, but in sunny California it is HOT for fall sports and even winter…and spring.
  • It’s a significant time commitment – I think this is the most obvious thing but I still wanted to include it. A school sport is usually a minimum commitment of ten hours a week, and that’s just counting practices and games. There will also be lots more events such as bonding, camps, fundraisers, clinics, etc. that you will be expected to attend- most of these are fun so it’s not an issue, it’s just something to be aware of since they will take up even more room in your schedule.
  • You will have to wear your uniform or sports attire to school (a lot…) – I think most schools do this? On game day, you will most likely have to wear your uniform or something related to your sport just to represent the program and remind people there’s a game. It saves you the struggle of picking out an outfit, but I know it bothers some people.
  • Depending on your sport’s season, you might still have to take P.E. or do more than one sport to get athletic credit – If your sport doesn’t practice in the offseason or it has a particularly short season, it often won’t count for a full PE credit. You’ll have to do sports during the other seasons or transfer into a PE class once your sport is over to finish the semester/year of credits. I had to do this after cheer was over for second semester, and it was a huge bummer. You can take PE online (I know, it’s weird) through BYU Independent Study if you’re interested!
  • It’s an amazing way to get involved in school, meet people, and have fun – Doing a high school sport is a great experience, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who’s interested. You feel like you’re really part of the student body from the beginning of the year, and you meet a lot of people you probably wouldn’t have otherwise. It has its ups and downs, but what doesn’t? Make the most of it while you can 🙂

I hope this gave you guys some insight into what participating in high school sports is like. Your experience is really what you make of it and it also depends on how your school runs their athletic programs, but I promise it will be fun if you have the right attitude. Let me know if you have any questions or requests for future content as always!

-Brooke

Why You Should Actively Volunteer

BrookeLeave a comment

Hello everyone!

Volunteering has become a significant part of my life in the last year or so; I joined Key Club my freshman year of high school and completed over fifty hours of service and recently I’ve joined another local volunteer organization. More specifically, I volunteer at a rescue animal shelter almost every weekend, and I often help out at Rotary events as my dad is an active member and president of our town Rotary club. I’m always looking for new places to volunteer and I think it’s so important to identify issues in your area and get involved helping.

I think it’s important for everyone to find at least one cause to devote some time to volunteering. It’s one of the best feelings when you know you’re doing something that actually makes a difference in other people’s lives. It can just be a few hours or a small act of kindness, but it will still touch at least one person- and that’s what matters. I’ve volunteered at many different types of events with many different charities/organizations, and I think every experience has been a uniquely wonderful one. Once you start, you don’t want to stop!

If you’re not sure where to start, simply look around you. Who is asking for help and desperately in need of volunteers? Are you particularly passionate about something, such as saving animals or conserving the environment? You could join a club; usually a great portion of clubs at high schools are based upon some form of community service, whether with one specific cause in mind or a general goal of service. If you do have something specific in mind and would like to share the activity with others, consider starting your own club or group to do so!

School is a great way to find service opportunities in general, even if you aren’t joining or starting a club. Ask your school counselor about local opportunities- they’ll usually have a list they can give to you, and they may recommend specific options based on your interests if they know you well. Schools also often hold fundraisers or drives for different charities; mine holds a shoe drive, a book drive, a canned food drive, and more during different parts of the school year. You could offer to help with advertising and collecting for these types of events if you’re really good at fundraising and such.

Once you find a service opportunity that works for you and interests you, try and stay committed to it. The longer you keep at it, the more it will reward you- you’ll see the fruits of your efforts. It’s totally fine to bounce around and try different things; I just recommend keeping at least one volunteer organization/cause consistent because you can get to know the other people you’re working with and as you stay committed more opportunities will open up to carry out your own ideas for events/fundraisers, etc. Do whatever you feel is best and most fulfilling- there are so many options out there, and I know I wish I could try them all out.

In this world, we are nothing without each other. Sometimes a little extra help is needed, and you can be that person to provide it. I think volunteering also gives you a boost of self-confidence in a way; if you’re not feeling good about yourself but then you do something philanthropic, you’ll gain a sense of purpose and an understanding of your ability to make an impact on others. Volunteering has definitely given me that sense of personal fulfillment, and I continue to enjoy doing it no matter what the cause is.

I hope you guys are inspired to go out and volunteer after reading this! Remember, it doesn’t have to be huge- I know I started small. Do whatever you can and whatever you’re comfortable with; I promise it’s so worth it. Let me know if you have any questions or requests for future content, and feel free to share your favorite place to volunteer or favorite things about volunteering!

-Brooke

Learning How to Be An Editor: 5 Things I’ve Learned

BrookeLeave a comment

Hello everyone!

I’ve previously mentioned my writing on this blog and my current beginnings of editing at Polyphony Lit, and I wanted to dedicate another post to it. Polyphony Lit is a literary magazine run almost completely by teens, featuring writing by teens; anyone in the age range can submit for free, and anyone can apply to be in the lowest rank of editing staff if they pass a trial assignment. I fell in love with the publication after I read one of their issues and as soon as I could, I began editing pieces. I’ve edited 8 pieces so far; if you want to know more about the experience, keep reading!

  • You actually don’t want to point out all the spelling and grammar mistakes – This is a mistake I made at first, but it was quickly corrected in the feedback from my trial assignment. It’s definitely worth mentioning that a piece needs more proofreading, but it doesn’t help the writer to pick out all the little comma errors in a poem. Sometimes grammar rules are broken on purpose, but even if they aren’t, when it comes to creative writing, grammar isn’t always the most important thing.
  • Sometimes, you just won’t know what to say or where to start – This doesn’t just happen with really good pieces- it can happen with any piece. When you’re still reading and processing, it’s hard to articulate your specific feelings about the elements of a piece and what you would change. I suggest reading things at least twice and then starting with the more general feelings about the piece before getting into more specifics.
  • It can be difficult to find that polite, balanced tone – You have to be kind; you are editing someone’s personal craft that they are probably very proud of. Sometimes you may forget to be gentle, but it’s important to censor yourself a bit in this way and remember there’s a human behind the screen.
  • You don’t have that much power – I don’t mean this in a rude way; I know when you hear the word “editor” I think of an editor-in-chief of a newspaper or something, but it’s not always like that. I’m one out of hundreds of editors at Polyphony, and I definitely don’t have that much power. My feedback still needs to be edited carefully and well-written, but it’s not going to sway whether a piece ultimately gets published or not.
  • A lot of amazing pieces are right in front of your eyes, at your fingertips – You are given the opportunity to read tons of wonderful works, some that the public may never end up seeing. Appreciate that, and learn from these writers. If you’re an editor, you’re probably a writer as well, and there’s always something to learn.

I hope you enjoyed learning more about the editing process of a publication; I am by no means an expert editor, but I’m trying my best to learn by taking in the words of others and reading lots of online material. Editing papers for classmates and friends was always one of my favorite tasks in English class, so this is a natural fit. I think it will also improve my writing skills, which will in turn improve the quality of this blog. As always, I’m here to answer questions or take requests for future posts- keep an eye out for new content!

-Brooke

Why First Semester is Always the Best Semester

BrookeLeave a comment

Hello everyone!

I wanted to touch on a topic that I briefly discussed in my last post- I mentioned that the beginning of the school year is always my favorite because there’s so much to look forward to. It’s a new beginning in many ways and you’ll find lots of opportunities ahead! Since starting school and getting back into work can be dreadful in some ways, I wanted to promote some of the positive things about it!

  • Football season/games – I absolutely love football games, and not just because I’m a cheerleader. I cheer for JV so those games are fun because I get to perform. My school is pretty spirited so everyone’s at the varsity games, and my friends and I all walk to local restaurants afterwards. Plus homecoming is part of football season, and that’s so much fun.
  • Joining new activities – With a new year comes the chance to get involved with new things! You can join different clubs, sports, programs, electives, things outside of school, etc. that you never thought of getting involved in before.
  • Meeting new people – If you go to a big school like I do, there’s constantly new people transferring in every year, and you’re never going to know everyone in your grade. Plus, a new year and new schedule means everyone gets mixed around a bit more- you might have classes with a bunch of people you’ve never even seen around before. I definitely realized that this year, and it’s been cool to meet new people.
  • Clean slate (not just grades, everything!) – It’s a fresh start and a completely different year. You can make it whatever you want it to be; there’s new classes, teachers, and people who may not know you. New classes are great because it’s a clean slate with grades and your classes might be more interesting than last year!
  • Going shopping (new clothes/supplies) – One of the best parts of going back to school is having cute new clothes and fresh school supplies. It’s the main time where you feel organized and prepared (unless that’s you all the time, props to you!, so enjoy it.
  • All the “firsts” of the year – The first rally, the first football game, the first party or hangout with friends, the first lunch period in your old spot, the first sports practice of the season, anything. Firsts are exciting- that’s the whole point of this post. They’re filled with promises of excitement to come.
  • School dances (homecoming, winter formal) – These aren’t everyone’s thing, but they’re still big events to look forward to. They’re usually accompanied with spirit weeks which are fun as well. I love seeing everyone get dressed up and it’s the best to just have a big night out with friends.
  • Thanksgiving break and winter break – These are two of the biggest/main breaks during the year; you might go on vacation, you might just hang out with friends. Whatever you spend the time doing, these are definitely times to look forward to as breaks in your busy schedule!
  • The holidays in general – I absolutely love the wintertime and the holiday season. The festiveness everywhere you go, ice skating with friends, and all the holiday parties- it’s just such a fun time. I always look forward to it, and before you know it, it’s over again. It really does creep up on you, but it’s truly the best.

I hope this gave you guys a more positive look into what a new school year entails. Now you have a little list of things to look forward to, plus anything else extra that’s specific to your school/life! I’m always here to answer questions or take requests for future content. Keep an eye out for new posts coming soon!

-Brooke

First Impressions of the School Year – Sophomore Year

BrookeLeave a comment

Welcome back everybody!

Today I am going to be talking about the recent return to school; I am a sophomore in high school (it feels so weird to say that after writing “rising sophomore” in all my summer posts) and my local district went back on August 21st. I’ve been pre-writing and scheduling my posts for a little bit, so I’m actually writing this on August 25th, the Sunday after my first week of school. It’s so weird to be back in class and have my calendar completely filled, but I wanted to discuss my thoughts on how everything has actually been so far.

First, I’ll discuss probably the biggest part of school: the classes. I’m taking AP European History, honors English, honors algebra 2, honors chemistry, Spanish 3, and yearbook (which counts as both an elective and an extracurricular). I have Spanish first, followed by English, chemistry, euro, yearbook, lunch, and I finish off the day with math. Last year it was flipped where I had English and my science class toward the end, and my social studies and math classes toward the beginning, but I’ve always had Spanish first. I have to say I prefer the order of my classes last year, but it doesn’t make that much of a difference.

As far as teachers, I have the same Spanish teacher as last year; other than that, I have five new teachers to win over! My teachers are all pretty nice but I definitely got ones on the stricter side- we didn’t do any fun beginning-of-the-year activities, and I’ve already had a decent amount of homework. I miss my teachers from last year just because they were so fun, but I guess that just came with being a freshman. Sophomore year already seems way more serious.

I have cheer practice Monday through Wednesday after school, so I stay on campus for a few extra hours because of that. JV football games are either late on Thursdays or early on Fridays, so I either have Thursday night or Friday night free depending on the week; most games are on Fridays, so I’ll usually have Thursday free. It’s a demanding schedule being at school for so long during the day and then going home and doing homework, but it’s manageable. As soon as we had our first football game and I got that adrenaline rush of performing again, I knew it was worth it.

I also knew I wanted to get more involved in my school and different activities this year. I signed up to be a tutor in my school’s Social Science center at lunch, so we’ve been having some meetings and trainings about that. I’m not sure when club rush is/when clubs start meeting, but I hope to join a club or two that I’m really interested in. I was in Key Club last year, and I plan to continue that as well; I even got ahead on my service hours over the summer. Through cheer, there’s also a special-needs children volunteering program that I’ve signed up for and gone to a couple events for- we teach the kids cheers and routines and perform at a few school/local functions. It technically counts as a club, but I’m not sure if it has regular meetings and such yet. Lastly, as I briefly have mentioned, I’m now a writer on the yearbook staff. We’re starting to get into our first assignments and I’m so excited!

It’s already been tiring so far, but I’m actually really excited for this year. I’m trying out and doing lots of new activities that I think I’ll really enjoy as the year goes on, and there’s so much to look forward to. Football season is SO much fun and homecoming is in the near future! I have a really good feeling about sophomore year; I can’t explain it, I just do. I hope you guys are having an amazing start to school as well! Let me know if you have any questions or requests for future content.

-Brooke

How to Plan A Trip

BrookeLeave a comment

Welcome back everyone!

This will be my first travel-related post since all the Europe posts from summer, which honestly gets me really excited for my next vacation. My mom and I are planning a trip to Seattle with possibly an excursion to Vancouver or Victoria (Canada) for Thanksgiving break; I’ve wanted to go to Seattle forever, and I can’t wait to go. It’s so nice to have something to look forward to now that I’m completely back in my school routine and the work is piling on. Anyways, since I’m in the middle of planning this trip, I figured I would share our process!

  • Figure out when you can go – I think this is even more important than where you want to go in some cases, because you have to consider the weather and the convenience. If it’s spring break and your family can only a five-day trip, you probably want to do something more local. If it’s winter, you might prefer to go somewhere warm and tropical, etc.
  • Decide where you want to go – In most cases you probably have somewhere in mind, but if you don’t, that’s almost more fun! Definitely go somewhere you’ve always wanted to, but if you’re having trouble deciding I would recommend going with whatever’s the best deal at the time. Skyscanner is a great website to see what places are cheapest to travel to at certain times.
  • Find flights – This is the first step to actually booking everything for your trip. Search out the deals ahead of time- last-minute tickets can be super pricey. If you travel a lot, I would recommend getting a points card/loyalty account/whatever they call it with your favorite airline- my family has only started traveling in the past couple of years so we don’t have one, but I know they come with lots of benefits.
  • Book hotels – Obviously it’s awesome to be in a really nice hotel, but I’m not too particular about that stuff. As long as it’s clean and they have decent amenities, I’m fine. Again, check out the deals beforehand and make sure your hotel is in a good part of the city/town/area you’re going to- location can be everything!! It’s fine to have a short walk to places (yay, exercise!) but if you’re too far and there’s not good public transportation, you’ll find yourself taking cabs/Ubers a lot and spending a lot of extra money.
  • Start looking up train tickets/any other transportation transfers you may need – You can definitely book these things last minute and be fine, but it will be a lot cheaper if you do it in advance. Plus, everything will already be done and ready once you get to your destination. Map out day trips and transfers if you’re traveling across multiple locations and book accordingly.
  • Book any “special” excursions or tours – Similar to the last tip, these are things you can book at anytime, but I would still recommend booking them early. If you’re not the type of person who likes to book more structured activities/tours, that’s totally fine! You’ll probably save even more money and it’s all about your personal traveling style.
  • Research restaurants and spots to go if you’re that type of planner – This is the most optional step; if there are certain places that are a must-see (given tourist spots, like the Space Needle in Seattle) or places you’ve heard about and always wanted to go to, obviously you know you want to go there. However, if you’re a big planner and want to go the extra mile, you can also look up restaurants and more quirky sights. It’s all about what you want to fill your time with, but there’s probably lots of options wherever you’re going.
  • Anticipate your amazing trip! – Now that you’ve planned a trip, there’s something to look forward to until it comes! You can go shopping in preparation so you have some nice new clothes to wear, you can make sure all of your luggage is in good shape, etc. If you need passport renewals or any travel document updates of that sort, make sure to get them in advance. Other than that, just get excited!!

I know these are all pretty self-explanatory tips, but I hope my little twist on them gave you a few new things to remember the next time you plan a trip. Thanksgiving break is kind of far away but I know the time will fly, so we can all look forward to my Seattle posts! As always, I’m here to answer questions and take requests for new content. I’m writing this on the first weekend of the school year, so I haven’t figured out my new posting schedule yet. I will be determining that in the next week or so. Keep an eye out for new content!

-Brooke

Beginning My College Search

BrookeLeave a comment

Hello everyone!

Now that I’m a sophomore in high school, college looms a bit closer. I know that I still have a lot of time before I actually have to apply, but I’ve always looked forward to going to college and hopefully going to a good one; naturally, I want to be prepared in advance. I wanted to give you guys some background on what I’ve done to think about college so far, and what I plan to do the rest of this year to continue preparing.

  • Signed up for college newsletters/email lists, etc. – I wanted to receive specific information from a variety of schools; when many different types of colleges are sending you brochures and emails, you can start to compare the differences and see what you like about all of them. Plus, if you already have schools in mind, this may be considered a part of demonstrated interest, which can be considered as part of the application process for some schools.
  • Consulted with both my high school counselor and a private college counselor – It’s important to utilize the resources available to you; you totally don’t need a private counselor, but at least talk to your school counselor about possible plans for the future. It’s their job to talk about this stuff, so they should have some sort of pointers. Get to know these types of people; the better they know you, the more they can tailor their advice to your needs and wants
  • Talked to people who have already been through this process (family friends, friends’ siblings, cousins, etc.) – Sometimes you need the perspective of someone who was literally just in this situation. Talk to people a couple years older than you; ask them how they went about the college process, how they chose their school, and of course how they’re doing now! Again, if you have specific schools in mind already, try and find some people who attend that college already.
  • Attend college events (college fairs, school visits, special events)– I haven’t attended any of these yet, but I hope to go to a few this year if they fit into my schedule. These are more of a priority if you’re a junior or senior since you can make connections with the representatives and get more specific information about schools, but it’s still good to start going as an underclassman if you can.
  • Visit local colleges – I wouldn’t start visiting colleges in other states/farther away if you’re just beginning to look at all the options out there; there’s just too broad a spectrum. If you have specific schools in mind definitely make the trek to go visit, but otherwise I would just go walk around whatever colleges are closest to you. I’m luckily to live in southern California so I’m pretty close to USC, UCLA, UCSB, kind of UCSD, plus more, but it doesn’t even have to be a prestigious school that you visit first; just getting a feel for campus life is the important part.
  • Keep track of potential interest and make a spreadsheet – It doesn’t have to be too serious; just make a list of any colleges that interest you, whether it’s because of their location, majors/programs, sports, etc., it doesn’t matter. It can be a huge list, because it’s sure to shrink down as you go through the rest of high school. Mine’s about 70 schools, but I’m only a sophomore and I know that probably less than 10 of those schools (or even none of the specific ones I found!) would be good fits in the end. I’m also pretty indecisive, so when making lists like that I’ll kinda throw everything on.

I hope this gave you guys an idea of some of the first steps you can take to start thinking about college. Maybe it will inspire you to do some research of your own! Either way, if you’re a sophomore like me, there’s plenty of time to figure things out; I definitely need to work on staying in the present and not stressing about the future so much. I’m always here to answer questions or take requests for future posts- keep an eye out for new content coming soon!

-Brooke