Top 10 Lists

Youth Advisory Group volunteers at Fairview Branch brainstorm high school survival tips.

Teen volunteers in the Fairview Branch Youth Advisory Group have some experience with making the best of high school and are offering their advice about how to get through the challenging parts. Here are their top 10 tips to help you get through.

Top 10 High School Survival Tips

1. Do your homework – Just do it. It’s how you learn and retain what you learn.
2. Do university applications early – The earlier the better. They take time, and you want to be careful with them.
3. Enjoy grade 9/10 – Things get harder after grade 10 and your marks matter more in the higher grades. Enjoy your first two years.
4. Drink coffee, tea, and wear face masks – Self care however you can. Don’t forget to plan time to relax and de-stress.
5. Go to sleep early – Go to bed earlier. Sleep is the best gift you can give yourself.
6. Taking care of your mental health is important – Talk to your paren'ts if you feel you need to miss class to refresh your mental well-being.
7. Take easy courses for high marks – Need to bump up your average? Sign up for some easy electives.
8. Don’t take courses you don’t need – Don’t waste time and energy on courses that aren’t going to help you.
9. Make connections! – Socialize, make friends, make a (good) impression on your teachers.
10. Don’t be afraid to fail – Sometimes failing is the only way to learn.

The library can also help you through your high school years and our friendly staff are here to guide you. Come and spend time in one of our Youth Hub locations after school or attend a program or workshop at a library branch in your neighbourhood. We have tutoring and homework help after school, and you can get a free tutor online with your library card through Brainfuse. Find a great book to read, and meet some new friends at the library.