Maintaining Balance

For all of us, stress increases greatly near the end of August and the beginning of September. Summer has ended, Fall has begun, and the start of school is around the corner. As anxiety runs high – whether beginning sixth grade or applying to college – we need to remember to maintain balance and keep a healthy perspective.

Applying to college consumes the average 17-year-old life, and actually choosing which college to attend creates an agonizing decision. Scoring well on the SAT or ACT becomes the crowning achievement of high school teens, as you have heard, "It's the most important test of your life." So how do we do this? How do we tell our kids to apply to college, take your standardized tests, and choose the next four years of your lives, all while keeping your sanity and maintaining balance and perspective? Here are three strategies:

STAY CURRENT: You keep your sanity and maintain a balance in your life by staying current with your work. Keep up with homework, take good notes in class, and remain diligent in your studies. There is no better cure for a frustrated and uncertain future in class than to stay current with your assignments. The more up-to-date you stay, the more reliable your notes and understanding of the material will be.

CREATE A RESEARCH PROJECT: Think of applying to college as a research project. You must put in more time ahead of the deadline to really make sense of the assignment. Figure out what schools interest you, and why. Create a list of priorities – Location? Price? Academics? Athletics? These are all important criteria, and they will vary in priority from student to student. Create a checklist of schools and rank them according to what you read about, hear about, and see firsthand when you visit.

BE OPEN: This is a great opportunity for you to explore your interests and boundaries. Be open to new ideas, challenge yourself, and challenge others. Most of all, don't limit yourself. This is a tough year, but an exciting year.

Whether beginning middle school or ending high school, please count on Tutorpedia as your guide to coaching you through these challenging yet exciting academic times. I am here for any and all questions you have along the way. Best wishes for a successful academic year!