Because high school is such a formative part of the human experience, it’s wise to shore up your chances for success. And how better to do that than by considering the advice of two highly successful recent graduates?
Both John Austin and Meghan McSweeney thrived in high school. It wasn’t always easy but they quickly learned to adapt and to take advantage of resources, both at home and school.
Before they head off to college, they imparted some pearls of wisdom for incoming freshmen, but their words can be applied across the age spectrum.
John is a graduate of Naperville Central High School in Naperville. He’ll study finance and Spanish at the University of Notre Dame. Meghan is a graduate of Richards High School in Oak Lawn. She will major in engineering physics at North Central College.
Academics
John: The curriculum can be quite challenging but the school system is set up for students to succeed if they want to. It’s very capitalistic in that sense. The work you put in equals the output. If you’re struggling in classes, find help through teachers or friends. There are tons of ways to do that. If you don’t have the answer, find someone who does. Knowing how to problem solve is crucial to success. Finding a way to get where you need to go is essential.
I had the luxury of having older sisters who attended the same school. Your parents are good people but the advice of people who’ve been there, done that, is crucial.
Meghan: Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself. There will always be support systems through the school or outside of it. It’s the best way to grow as student and person. Don’t be so obsessed with grades or your GPA. It’s more important to learn the material than get a good grade.
I definitely had rough patches where I wasn’t understanding something or needed help. My advice would be to reach out. There is all kinds of help.
Extracurriculars
Meghan: Join clubs or sports. It’s a good way to meet people and make friends. I’m friends with a ton of people I’ve met through the tennis team. Don’t be afraid to talk to people you might not know. People in activities are more open to meeting new people. And you get to meet people who might not be in your classes.
John: Kids who get into sports or clubs easily transition. You’re going to naturally find friends if you’re slightly outgoing and willing to take chances on people. No one really knows who you were before you got there so you have an opportunity to start fresh.
I work at a local pizza place. It’s been a big part of my high school career and part of my identity as a whole. I started freshman summer and have been there since. I learned a lot. It’s a place I relied on as a hobby and extracurricular. It’s how I got through high school.
Friends
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John: I’m lucky to have the same friend group forever. We all live in my neighborhood and have hung out since elementary school. I know for a fact that making friends and having friends has become more difficult and easier for different reasons. Social media can help you find groups and cliques. But because of COVID and technology, online interactions can make it difficult to really connect. It’s the plus and minus of social media: More access to more people, but it’s virtual.
Our group matured as time progressed. We all found different hobbies but we had a strong foundation. That helped us move together separately. You hear a lot about cliques. It’s cliché but don’t judge people. Find out for yourself. Don’t believe everything you hear. And remember, people can change.
Meghan: Communication is a big thing I stress with my friends. Whenever there’s a fight or issue, I say, “Talk it out.” A lot of times girls push problems aside and wait for them to fade but the best advice I can give is to communicate your feelings with your friends. Talk about it in a calm way. “How can we fix this?”
Social media
Meghan: Use it as a positive platform. Don’t get involved in drama. It’s all stupid and at the end of the day it’s only going to cause more problems. Use social media for talking with friends and having fun, but nothing negative.
John: Kids are getting phones at an early age today. Parents need to be educated on the effects of social media, because they’re the ones allowing kids to have phones. My mom works in a school, and sees how bad things can happen. She did a really good job of creating an open environment. I wasn’t afraid to tell her anything that was going on. That trust is crucial — having a parent you can go to.
I know peer pressure is prevalent but I didn’t struggle with that. I credit that to knowing myself. I set limits for myself.
Stress
John: It all starts with a good mindset. Everything in life starts with that. If you have that and balance, if you think you can do it, you can do it.
Meghan: I talk about it with parents or friends. It’s important to express how you’re feeling but also to find solutions. Exercise helps me relieve stress. And I’m very big into art, so drawing helps. Do things that you know will help you decompress. If I could have done anything differently, I would have dealt with my stress a lot better. Initially, I felt freshman year was not supposed to be hard but sometimes it was. I’s OK to reach out and tell people you’re struggling and need help.
COVID-19 lessons
John: You can’t really control the cards you’re dealt. It’s how you play them. COVID affected the whole world, not just me. But I found a way to make the best out of the worst situation. I was able to tackle more things because the academics were turned down a little bit. I was able to take on more hours at work. I was able to balance work, sports and grades. Life is 10% what happens, 90% how you react to it.
Meghan: I learned to value being in person, having one-on-one connections with people. I missed that. I didn’t like being online a lot, I preferred being in person. That was very hard for me. I had to learn in my own way how to make a good situation out of something that was very difficult. I think I grew from it. Since COVID, I learned that being involved is important. I wish I had been more involved at the beginning of high school.