From “Surviving High School” to Thriving: A Guide for Underclassmen

Senior, Jackson Garret takes a photo with his friends, Everett Gryder, Jackson Love, Evan Burroughs, Eli Bishop, Cade Keller, Wit Williamson, Nyle Peays, Kyle Williams, Thomas Dieters, Merrix Oakes, after a football win on October 12, 2025. “The bonds we’ve made with each other individually these last 4 years have been so special,” said Garret. Photo credits: Jackson Garret

Lauren Peviani, Staff Writer for The Powderhorn

If you could ask your future self how to succeed in your high school career, would you do it? While it isn’t possible to converse in that fashion, advice shared by seniors graduating this year could take underclassmen from simply “surviving high school” to genuinely growing as a person.

High school revolves around academics and social life, and balancing both while getting enough sleep can feel impossible. Senior Jackson Garrett, who juggled extracurriculars like DECA and AFG, believes that achieving stability appears differently for every individual.

“It doesn’t mean cutting one out entirely, it just means learning to understand what you need in a given season while still making room for what you enjoy,” said Garrett. 

For many seniors, a critical part of their high school journey was finding their place in the community. Clubs, sports, and other extracurricular activities provided outlets that encouraged them to explore their interests and form meaningful friendships. For Theresa Copenhaver, a senior who’s graduating this spring, she found that her passion lay in Mountain Alliance, the school’s outdoor adventure club.

“It definitely changed my attitude to a lot of things and my trajectory for my high school career. I cared too much about what other people thought, and last year I realized that it doesn’t matter,” said Copenhaver. “The people who stick with you are your real friends, and that’s what matters the most.”

Throughout your years in high school, staying true to yourself matters, even when it feels easier to blend in. Pursuing the things that reflect your own interests and passions will bring far more fulfillment than conformity ever could. Chloe Weigl, a member of the 2026 graduating class, said she wishes she had recognized that during her freshman year.

“It is easy to manipulate yourself because of insecurity,” said Weigl. “But if you are confident in what you believe and prioritize loving others rather than focusing only on yourself, it’ll make a huge difference in your mindset, goals, and overall experience.”

Being influenced into acting against your morals is an issue that many face without noticing. It’s essential to make sure that you aren’t being peer pressured, or hanging out with people who will make you do things that aren’t true to your own nature.

“Don’t put on a show for others. It’s really hard not to, especially if you’re a people pleaser,” said Garret. “But you should always stay true to your morals and what you believe in no matter what. The more you compromise who you are, the harder it becomes to recognize yourself.”

Semester slumps, winter exhaustion, and procrastination are all reasons why work begins to pile up, and many find themselves in a hole without having realized they dug one in the first place. To avoid the never ending cycle of “I’ll do it later” or “I just want to relax today”, it’s important to build healthy habits early on.

“I wish I had understood the importance of planning, list-making, alarm-setting, and the perks of keeping an agenda,” said Weigl. “Organization is key to quality work, timeliness, and keeping your head above water.”

At the end of the day, high school isn’t just a means to an end, but something to truly live out and enjoy. You can’t rewrite your past, whether it’s junior high or high school, but you can choose how you move forward. If decisions and changes from today shape who you’ll become, be someone worth traveling into the future for.

“You should absolutely work hard in school, but you also have to live your life. These years go by fast, and you should enjoy them,” said Garrett. “Spend time with friends, make memories, and learn from your mistakes. Just be a kid while you still can.”