<p>Some pretty amazing advice here. I’d round it out to add:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Care about your school work. Do well in subjects unrelated to theatre. Academic strength can open doors including doors at top MT programs and it is where the merit money is if there is any to be had. </p></li>
<li><p>Enjoy high school. Do things that have nothing obvious to do with advancing your MT competitiveness but they are fun anyway and it is the right time in your life to do them. Those experiences can help you indirectly in ways that may not be obvious when you’re deciding between an extra ballet class or going to the high school basketball game.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>edit: woops. Jeffandann beat me to the punch so this is “ditto.”</p>