How to find your niche in high school — Part 1

Finding out your happy place can be hard to do in high school. There are so many things going on around you that it is easy to get lost in it all, but being able to find “your thing” can be one of the most beneficial things you can do throughout your high school years and beyond.

One of the things I have had the biggest issue with is trying to find my place in high school while balancing the work load I have. I am the kind of student that realized a little too late that school was actually useful and it can get you far in life. In order to make the most of the time I had left, I came up with 10 steps to help me manage my workload and help me find where I fit in most.

Step One: Take a look at your schedule
See if you have any common classes or activities. What subject do those classes fall under and why are you taking them? For me, I have taken a lot of writing classes and extracurriculars, so I started to incorporate writing and reading a little bit more into my schedule to see if that was something I liked and wanted to continue to pursue.

Step Two: Use your downtime to pursue your interests
Most people have days where they have down time, or at least have a little less to do. Those are the days that can be the most useful when you’re trying to integrate your interests more into your day to day life. Since I wanted to do more reading and writing, I found that when my personal schedule allowed me free time, I would schedule time to read poems.

Step Three: Find a place to enjoy your interests
This can be almost anywhere, as long as you’re safe and someone else is aware of where you are. Whether it be your bedroom, a yard, a park, a recreation center, or any other place, make sure it’s somewhere you know you’ll be comfortable so you can pursue your passion comfortably. 

Step Four: Seek out clubs and organizations
Do research in your local community to see if there are any groups or clubs that offer the activity you’re interested in. This can help you stick to a structured schedule and prevent you from making excuses when you’re tired or want to give up. It also gives you something to look forward to!

Step Five: Don’t be afraid to bring it up to friends and family.
Whatever you’re interested in, you may also find that you have someone around you who already has a similar interest, allowing and you to can share and cultivate your experiences with them. Talk to the people around you and see how you can encourage each other to achieve your goals!

Check back next week to read the next five tips to finding your niche!

Written by Jenna F., a junior at Churchville-Chili Senior High School in Rochester, N.Y. She is 16 (going on 17), and is Vice President of the Robotics team at her high school. As soon as she graduates from school, she hope to go off to college and double major in Literature and Marketing.