The ACT test^® may seem overwhelming, but after taking a prep class I’ve learned a lot of helpful tips to familiarize myself with the test. So if you need a few tips, I hope this blog will help. (more…)

Junior year is often known as the most stressful year of high school; I completely agree. I’ve challenged myself a lot this year. I’ve taken advanced classes that are equivalent to college courses. I’ve been involved with extracurricular activities and clubs, including S.I.T.E. (an environmentalist club) and Key Club. I’ve also had the added stress of trying to balance school, a social life, and applying for colleges and taking college placement tests. I feel overwhelmed with so much to do and it seems as if there is no time to do it. The school year is coming to a close in a month and only summer plans are on my mind, but it’s important for me to not get too distracted because the school year isn’t over yet. (more…)

I had a very close group of friends in middle school. We swore we would be best friends forever, but then we found ourselves going to completely different high schools. Some of us remained friends and some of us lost touch. In life everyone has different paths. Sometimes the paths with your friends just don’t seem to intersect. (more…)

It’s important to realize that everyone is different. Sometimes we compare ourselves with the people standing right next to us. But this can lead us to view ourselves in a dimmer light then them. We all want to go in the same direction, but it doesn’t mean we all need to take the same path. (more…)

The more familiar I am with something, the easier it is to handle. When I do something for the first time, I’m usually anxious and uneasy, but the more I do something, the better I am at it. When I take a test, I want to do my best. Being unprepared doesn’t help. That anxious and uneasy feeling causes stress; I become so worried about how much time I have left to finish that my mind can go blank or I can make careless mistakes. If you’re like me, preparing will help your stress levels and will help you perform better when taking the ACT. (more…)

High school students have so many different options when deciding which direction to take. There are countless things to consider when planning for the future and many steps to take to reach your goals. I switched schools going into my sophomore year of high school; I went from knowing everyone to knowing no one. I wasn’t focused on making friends. I did horribly my freshman year with a 1.9 GPA, and I planned to focus on school for the following years, not play.

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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.
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I just started a new semester with new classes, new teachers, and tons to do. One of my classes is an advanced English class and the work load seems almost impossible, but so far I’m doing well. I chose to take that class because it looks good to colleges and because my high school guidance counselor said I had the ability to take the class. I was a bit skeptical at first, but now I’m happy that I’m taking the course.
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My name is Lauren Siwek and I’m a junior at Cooper City High School in Florida. My school is very academically focused. Most of the students strive to be at the top of their class. When students around you excel, it pushes you to do the same, which is why my mom transferred me to Cooper City High my sophomore year.
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