Staying true to yourself can be hard in high school. Lexington High School’s high standards for achievement can be stressful, and it can be easy to fall behind or to start comparing yourself to others. Your freshman year is the best time for you to ground yourself in your own values and set your own realistic goals and expectations. This is the first step toward being the best version of yourself. Below are six tips, backed by insight from rising seniors, on how to find yourself and grow as a person during your four years at LHS.

Find your balance:

Time is the one resource that you cannot get more of, so you need to use it effectively. Efficiently managing your time and balancing your commitments is essential for your well-being and personal growth. Be sure  to make time for academics, passions, and some downtime for yourself.

“Managing my time effectively means I get assignments done faster, generally have less stress than most of my friends, and have more free time to do whatever I want to do. I found balance by making sure to only participate in things I found interesting. In my classes, for example, I took a lot of higher-level classes but I didn’t take a class because of the level. If I found the topic interesting, I took the highest level available.” – Julia Tanin, LHS senior

Find your areas of improvement and grow:

With the hustle and bustle of high school, it can be difficult to find time to reflect. It’s important to actively evaluate your past performance and assess areas that need improvement instead of being entirely focused on what lies ahead of you. Learning from mistakes and addressing your faults is key to your future success.

“Keep your head on your shoulders and your eyes up. My own experience has been greatly improved by keeping true to myself above all. Your true self is never stagnant. Accept information and accept your own abilities, but never accept that you have learned and done all that you can; there is always more.”  – Silver Wang, LHS senior

Find your mentors:

There are so many adults at LHS who are more than happy to support you through thick and thin. From celebrating small victories to coping with difficult challenges, having a strong adult support system is essential to your well-being at high school. Talking to responsible and experienced adults can provide you with helpful insight and guide you toward success.

“As someone who has transferred to Lexington High School twice — during the beginning of freshman year and junior year — I’m forever grateful for the teachers who helped me through that process. I’m grateful and thankful for [my dean’s] support, and this has helped me think about my hardships in a more positive and healthier manner.” – Zela Onwubiko, LHS senior

Find your friends:

You have over 600 peers in your grade, but you’ve probably never seen most of their faces. Your freshman year is a wonderful opportunity for you to make friends, and build social circles that will support you throughout your high school journey. Branch out during your freshman year so you can find the friends who will truly stay by your side. You are a reflection of those you surround yourself with.

“Friends are the backbone of your experience in high school. Sometimes mirroring those who you value, even if you don’t realize it, builds stronger bonds. Friends will provide you with breaks from the stress of classes, relatable experiences, and overall give you a better understanding of yourself throughout school.” – Hiro Kokubo, LHS senior

Find your passions:

Be bold. Be brave. Step out of your comfort zone. LHS has a plethora of clubs that can challenge you in several ways. Freshman year is the time for experimentation, so strive to push your boundaries and try out new activities. If there’s a skill or a topic you’ve been hoping to look more into, LHS is sure to have a club for it, and if not, you can make one yourself! Discovering what brings you happiness can allow you to flourish throughout high school.

“For years I had been really shy and the idea of participating in discussions and debates had ranked eleven out of ten on the uncomfortable scale. Sophomore year, I signed up for Model United Nations. It turned out to be the best club I could have chosen for personal growth. I became more confident giving public speeches and participating in debates. So, if you are anything like me, go for it. It could be the best thing you ever did.” – Kaitlyn Ocwieja, LHS senior

High school’s tough, but you’re tougher. Don’t compare yourself to your peers; find ways to grow as a community. Focus on outperforming yourself, not others. Find a way to get one percent better every day.