During the year, our high school counselors make classroom visits to talk about future plans. Recently we received one of these visits from our college advisor. She discussed the important information we need to know to hopefully get into the college of our choice. She covered everything from college planning to scholarships.

One of the most important factors she mentioned was standardized testing for college admission. She stressed the need to start signing up for and taking the tests. Since this year seems to be flying by, I know that I need to start focusing on more than just my high school coursework. The next ACT test date is April 10, 2010.

Because I want to do well on the ACT, I didn’t think it would be a good idea to go into the test blindfolded and I wanted to take the test without the pressure. I made the decision to take a mock ACT on the 27th of February. The mock ACT is a practice test. It doesn’t count and helps familiarize you with the test.

Taking a practice test also allows you to get feedback on what you know and what you need to know.

I suggest you sign up for these tests with a friend. Having support always helps me. Friends can help push each other to study and make preparation more fun. Instead of having to force myself to go it alone, I’ve found doing things with friends gives me both a positive mindset and provides comfort and support.

As life gets busier and busier, it’s sometimes hard to keep focused on school. When you have a lot on your plate — whether it be sports or extracurricular activities — life can seem overwhelming. You have to know your limits and how far to push yourself. If you push yourself too much, you might overwhelm yourself to the breaking point.
Your junior and senior year of high school can be stressful, but remember to breathe. Have a schedule and stick to it. Don’t procrastinate. If you put things off, your schedule will only get busier and busier. When faced with so much stress, sometimes you just want to do nothing. Don’t give up on yourself; with perseverance you’ll thrive. When school feels hard, remember the goal. Whether it’s getting into a certain college or beginning a career, going through school is how you get there. To do well you’re going to have to want to do well. Let go of the stress and focus on what you want. You have to reach for your goals, because not everything is handed to you. Just believe.