Bucket lists are really popular, as you probably know.

Before I die, I want to…go to one of so-and-so’s concerts, meet a celebrity I like, travel to someplace really cool, etc. But some of those are admittedly, far-fetched. Not to say you won’t be able to complete them, but it might take a little more out of your (or your parents’) pocketbook than you want.

So for right now, how about we focus on a four-year high school bucket list – something that requires little-to-no money, and is very easy to complete?

#1: Learn what clubs and sports are available at your school. Even if you’re not interested, maybe you’ll find something to try, and end up liking it! (That was theatre for me 🙂 If you decide you’d like to join a club, but your school doesn’t offer it, ask a teacher to help you start one!

#2: Attend at least one event – whether it’s a sports game, musical/play, or dance competition – in which your school is competing. It boosts competitors’ morale when they see their friends or classmates coming out to support them in their event,? you know that feeling when your friends come to your event. If you want to go the extra mile, show some school spirit – dress up in your colors or game night theme!

#3: Mentor an underclassman. It may not sound like a lot of fun, but you’re helping a younger student with something they may be struggling to accomplish, and you might learn some things yourself! Besides, tutoring looks good on your r?sum?. If you excel at a subject, share your talent!

#4: Attend a school dance.? I went to Homecoming my freshman year, and it was pretty fun (when I could hear my friends over the pounding bass). It’s an excuse to get dressed up, hang out with friends,?dance, and, of course, the afterparty! (Note on that: Try not to stay up until 2AM with all your friends singing karaoke and watching YouTube videos.)

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#5: Take a Foreign Language class. Bonjour! Hola! Salve! Foreign language classes are essential to our learning, especially because you’ll have a basic understanding if you ever travel outside the United States – and even if you don’t, there’s still a sizable chunk of the population that speaks other languages. Pro-tip: It also looks really good on your college application.

#6: Talk with your school counselor about your future goals. Yeah, it seems scary, but they’re there to help. If you have no clue what you want to major in – or what you want to do after college – then they can help. You won’t regret it in the long run, promise!

#7: Talk to an upperclassman (and thank them for their guidance!).?My freshman year, I joined this group called Lil Sis, Big Sis. It was for freshman and senior girls who wanted to be more informed about high school. Seniors would take on a freshman and kind of mentor them through the year, showing them the ropes and helping them through classes and whatnot. Freshman would then have one extra person to turn to when trying to figure out the scary whirlpool that is high school. My Big Sis, Emily, gave me a huge confidence boost that first year, and I am really grateful she was there for me.

#8: Thank a teacher. Ok, so maybe it’s a little awkward to talk to your teachers, but they’ll appreciate it if you come to them after a test and say “Thank you for your help!” Everybody likes to be recognized for something they’re good at, or something they’ve accomplished. I went and thanked my Algebra teacher after the final with a huge bag of Skittles. She’s one of my favorite teachers to this day.

#9: Offer support to someone. This can be someone you know, or someone you’ve only met in passing. If you find out they need some backup – whether it be dealing with something serious, or only a little anxious – offer a helping hand. People really appreciate it when others go out of their way to help them out, and it can build a great new relationship.

And finally…

#10:?Do something outside of your comfort zone. So…this one is a little harder to do. I’m going to use a personal example. My freshman year of high school, I was (and still am) more of an introvert. I didn’t like spending much time around big groups, and hated doing anything with an audience. Still, not being involved in anything outside of the regular school day looks terrible on college apps, and leaves you with a whole lot of empty time to fill. I saw some posters for auditions for the school musical: Shrek. I never really liked the movies a whole lot, but I had been doing it with Penguin Project, so I decided, Why not?? I auditioned, landed the role of Humpty Dumpty (which came with a solo – remember that whole “scared of audiences” thing? Yeah, that was scary…), and made a lot of friends, as well as getting closer to a couple of people I already knew. I just finished this year’s musical (Wizard of Oz) and I never would’ve been in it if I hadn’t stepped out of my comfort zone.

Those are just ten of the things you can try? in your four years of high school, and there’s so much more I haven’t even touched on! Now for numbers 11-100…I’m just kidding! I can’t write that much.????? I hope you enjoyed this week’s blog post, brought to you by resident introvert Emma Doering. Write you guys later!

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Meet the Writer: Emma is a sophomore, and interested in studying Education and English Studies with an emphasis in Digital Film + Screenwriting. ?She has a passion for creative writing, reading, traveling, performing, and singing. When she isn’t practicing for musicals or choir, she is hanging with friends or just relaxing at home with a good book.

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