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Lifelines & Goals

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If you knew you were going to be stranded on a deserted island for four years, you would immediately start thinking about what you need to have in order to survive those four years. Well, high school can be very much like that deserted island. What will you need to get you through these four years?
High school is a time when a sense of belonging, support and being a part of something can really help students succeed academically, stay out of trouble and ease some of the feelings of loneliness and not fitting in. Whether you’re drawn to the football team, the band, the chess club or stage crew, or an internship, community service or a part-time job, the important thing is to have something. Here are some of the survival tools that helped get students safely through their four-year journey.

My favorite thing was that I met some great friends who are my new best friends. I just met them this year. I thank God for putting them in my life.
—Graciella, 14

I’ve been keeping a journal since before junior high. There are a lot of times I have more feelings than I know what to do with and nobody to talk to who will really listen to me. My journal has been a reliable, trust-worthy outlet for me. I can get feelings out, work through problems and just be “heard” in a way I can’t always get with my family or friends.
—Evonne, 18

The hardest part, looking back, was me, socially. I really never found a way to fit in, so I really was used to being alone, and I think I assumed that was the way things were for me normally. If someone tried reaching out to me, I’d assume they were trying to make me fall for something, so they could just drop me back to where I had been and laugh at my naivety, so I never even let people get to me like that. What did help me was my involvement with the robotics team, as it did provide a group for me to be with for a large portion of my time.
—Josh Reagan, 20

I never had too many problems socially because I fell into a group of kids who had the same interests and aptitudes, and similar geopolitical knowledge and insights. We were together for speech and debate, model U.N., youth and government, and Amnesty International. These were all student-motivated groups.
—Tara, 18

I was getting involved with gangs and hanging out with the wrong crowd so I didn’t pay any attention to my school work. I was one of those very bright kids who had to force myself to get a C in order to be accepted by my friends. I enrolled in every shop class imaginable—my counselors kept trying to put me in the college-bound courses, but I didn’t want to do that, because it wasn’t cool.
I was also one of those kids that never needed a hall pass: If I didn’t like your lecture, I just got up and walked out, and more than likely you were happy to get rid of me. I was always acting up in class. I was never a major danger but always mischievous, and just bright enough to get by.
One day I was out in the hallway, doing what I always did, just standing around talking to people. I was dressed in my gang attire then, and trying to act “bad,” you know, to the crowd. This one teacher came up to me, and she said, “You know, Lou, you’re gonna wind up dead or in jail if you don’t listen to me. I want you to take this class. I want you to tell me if you like it or you don’t like it, but I want you to try it.”
This class was called “Speech and Debate.” I couldn’t believe that young people in this class were getting grades to do what I was doing for free out in the hallway, talking and acting out. I remember sticking my hand in a hat, selecting a topic and defending it quite well. I said, “This is for me.” And from that day on, I just soared like an eagle, went on ahead, went to college, and did great.
—Louis

One of the things I liked about high school was getting good academic grades. I accomplished my goal of getting a 3.5 and above. Another thing I enjoyed was joining the drumline. In the drumline we got the opportunity to travel with our champion football team.
—Martin, 14

When the office finally put my schedule together, it turned out that I had plant science and FFA (Agricultural Education), and now I’m glad that I did. In June, at the annual banquet, I got my Greenhand degree, high GPA scholarship and a certificate for participating in the Best Informed Greenhand contest, and qualified for state competition.
—Eddie, 14

I did something this year that surprised me. I ran for president. I can’t remember why I did it but I did. Even though I didn’t win, I made a lot of people laugh.
—Chris, 14

I joined a B’nai Brith Youth group, an organization for Jewish kids, when I was a junior. I didn’t find many outlets or groups in my high school that held much interest for me, but this group gave me a chance to develop leadership skills as an officer and newspaper editor, to perform in talent competitions, to play sports and to meet a lot of people. I think high school would have been unbearable otherwise.
—Ronnie, 19

Without sports, I’d be on the streets right now.*

At school, I’m quiet and reserved. Unlike at home, or with my friends, where I’m a bit crazy. When I say crazy, I mean talking a lot, really fast, being a lot more outgoing, and doing lots of fun things. I don’t mean that I go out and drink, smoke and have sex. What keeps me away from those bad things is my faith in God. I grew up in a church filled with people who are strong in their faith. My parents helped me a lot in developing my faith. I thank them for that. Most all my friends are from my church family. We’re a tight group, and we hang together. It’s easier to stand up for what I believe, and say no to bad things when I have my friends standing behind and supporting me.
I gave my life to God in the 4th grade. I remember giving God my heart, soul, mind and body. I love my Father God very much. If it wasn’t for my faith in Him, I never would have made it through middle school, let alone high school. I truly feel that if I had not given my life to my heavenly Father when I did, I may be doing some of the terrible things I know other teens are doing. I only wish other teens knew that “happiness does not lie in things, but in the Maker of all things.”
—Ann, 18

I found that being involved gave me a positive identity, not only for myself but my school. Sports taught me to get along with all types of people and to respect and listen to adults other than my parents. Sports also taught me how to communicate and be a leader, skills that can be learned in any type of group setting, including the art club, chess club, etc. The main thing is to get involved!
—Sarah, 23

What helped me get through high school was knowing that this time would soon be over and that I would have more control over my life.
—Nancy

*indicates material that was submitted anonymously

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