<p>So I was a pretty smart guy, made mostly A’s and stuff and didn’t really worry about my future. I started getting worried when my counselor came to our class and gave us a whole speech about our future, high school courses and all that jazz. I started getting worried that about my future education. Given my culture my parents expected me to get into a good school and have a good career and stuff. They tell me they “just want me to try my best” but I know they’re secretly hoping I get a full ride to Harvard or the like and become a surgeon or something. I’m in 8th grade right now and I’m taking all 8th grade classes except Algebra 1 (Except they renamed it to “High School Math Course 1”). I wanted to know how to plan out my future education. (Honors classes, AP classes, Online Schools etc.) I’ve been thinking about enrolling in NCVPS and taking some courses so I don’t have to do it during high school. Will they let middle school students enroll? One of my friends who moved from Michigan is already taking Algebra II at the local high school. I’m also nervous about applying to NCSSM because I REALLY want to get in. I do a bunch of extra-curricular stuff like MathCounts, Battle of the Books, and Jazz Band but my parents keep insisting I need to do a sport even though we all know I have no athletic talent at all.</p>
<p>You have A LOT OF TIME to think about your future, I’m still questioning mine and I’m a Junior. You should worry about that stuff when you’re in high school. I’m not familiar with NCVPS, but I do know that NCSSM is not easy to get into. You really have to be “almost” gifted in the sciences and/or mathematics. Knowing what you want to do takes time, and a lot of thinking. Try new things and go out of your comfort zone etc. Thinking too far ahead is stressful and just worry about getting out of the eighth grade lol. I think you have a lot of potential and determination, but take things one step at a time first. Curiosity isn’t a bad thing, and I’ll be happy to answer any of your questions about high school, classes and etc. I hope you get into NCSSM, good luck and take it easy.</p>
<p>Chill, bro. Slow down. You<code>re only in 8th grade…so whatever you do now (excluding high school classes you</code>re currently taking) doesn<code>t apply to high school. On your apps to colleges, you only put down HIGH SCHOOL activities and classes, so all the stuff you</code>re doing now won<code>t help, so slow down and don</code>t do all that if you don`t want to.
You want to know why the counselor`s do that? Huh? Why they come in and give those speeches? 1% is to keep the kids like you who get good grades to stay motivated. You wanna know what the other 99% of the speech is for? For the kids who are slackers, and those who and/or:</p>
<p>1) Failing
2) Getting bad grades
3) Constantly getting into trouble
4) 1 step away from being an official Juvenile Delinquent</p>
<p>Now, I`m gonna take a WILD guess and infer that none of the above apply to you. Am I right? Of course I am.
What do YOU want to do? Yeah, high school is very important. So get good grades, take some APs, honors, do some extracurriculars, etc. But do what YOU want. Ive been very lucky in that my parents have always pushed me to do my best, but have always let me have free reign in what classes, activities, and such that I wanted to do, unless they seriously didnt agree with it (Which hasn`t happened).</p>
<p>So sit down, talk this over with your parents, and explain how that whole speech + your parents breathing down your neck is making you a nervous wreck. Confront the fact that they<code>re hoping you</code>ll get int Harvard (Wow, that sounded like I was a psychologist) and TALK to them about it, because they have NO way of knowing how you feel unless you talk to them about it. </p>
<p>What do YOU want to do in life? What career do YOU want? </p>
<p>Don`t worry about APs, honors, and all of those classes yet. Think about it once you sign up for freshman year classes.
Do you like those extracurriculars? If you do, great? If theyre something else that your parents are pushing you to do, talk to them about it. High school ECs are the only ones that count anyways (this isn`t to say to stop doing them if you like them).</p>
<p>And talk to them about doing sports–if you don`t want to, tell them.
Listen to all us CCers. We`re in high school, and know that this going to do you any good worrying. Capice? Capice.</p>
<p>^ Woah~ Nice one lol. </p>
<p>Listen to this fellow, he/she has great advice.</p>
<p>Dude…chill! I didn’t even think like that untill my second semester of my sohphomore year and that was because I discovered this site(I never really worried!). You can have an idea of what classes to take and a normal high schooler is supposed to take algebra their freshman year, this site is just filled with over achivers but I must admit I was one of those who took algebra 2 my freshman year. Get involved and do what you like and worry a normal amount about your grades, make sure they’re A’s, don’t over stress when you make a B or a low A. Your world will not end!!! Your future isn’t much of a concern till then summer before junior year and even then that’s super early. Like someone said earlier, talk to your parents and make sure you have the reins to your schedule and only consult your parents afterword about some of your electives or if they think your classes are too easy or hard, but you’ll know what you can handle ultimately.</p>
<p>Honestly, I had your attitude until the middle of my Junior year of high school. Sure, I studied for the ACTs/SATs, I worked hard in school, and expanded my interests, like every high school student should be actively doing. But I never focused on college. I never really thought about it, and just did what I wanted to do throughout high school. College was just that thing in the distance that I’d eventually start thinking about. And although now I’m in full on college apps mode, I’d say I’m happy with the way my high school experience turned out to be. I had the type of social life that I wanted, I took the classes that I enjoyed, and did the EC’s that had interest in. And even though I don’t have the imposing list of EC’s that CC’ers admire, I am happy with what I have accomplished. </p>
<p>If I had focused on college, when would I ever have found out that I enjoyed arguing, reading political philosophy, and listening to dubstep? When would I have found that I actually am a pretty decent writer, and that I have a hidden passion for history? I would never have. I would’ve have been the stereotypical high school overachiever with science internships, a robotics project, and an Intel contest entry, but no insight into myself or any idea of what I truly enjoy doing. </p>
<p>If I had the chance to do high school over again, I’d do it exactly the same. I’d repeat every perceived mistake. Why? Because these “mistakes” have defined who I am, and who I will become. And personally, I’m really happy with the person I have become. I think I’m a pretty cool guy :D. If you can take that away from your high school experience, then you have succeeded. I hope you take this advice, and focus on yourself throughout high school, and the rest of your life, not college, or whatever other goal your parents set for you. Do what you want, and you’ll be happy with the person you become.</p>