It’s never too early to start

Back-to-school sales are everywhere. Have you bought a new pair of jeans or a backpack? A few notebooks, pens and pencils? What does the start of a school year mean to you? New teachers, new books, new subjects – sure. But it’s also a new opportunity.

It sounds obvious but it’s worth repeating: By the time your senior year hits [insert nostalgic music here], you can’t undo – or redo – the past. Your grades and activities over the past three years are what they are. If you’re a senior, received all A’s, joined four clubs and had excellent leadership experiences, you rock. (But you’ll still have to work hard this year to prove that you’re up for the challenges of college.)

If you’re a senior and haven’t received the grades you wanted or participated in many activities, that’s okay too – but you’ll really need to push yourself this year to get the highest grades you possibly can, and it’s not too late to join a club or two. Many colleges strongly examine seniors’ academic performance to help make admissions decisions. And they want to see upward grade trends.

For you freshmen, sophomores and juniors out there: Take note. Seize this opportunity to select the right classes and extracurricular activities. Challenge yourself with a rigorous curriculum, and work hard to get good grades in those classes. (Colleges do want to see you take the most rigorous classes that you can handle.) Join a club you know nothing about, just to see what it’s like. If you’re not into it, then drop it after a semester or two, and try other things. Or start a club if your high school doesn’t offer one that you like. Find a few activities that you really enjoy. Some of these could turn into a college major, lifelong passion or career.

The new school year is here. It’s your chance to prove yourself. Make the most of it.