It may surprise you to learn that your high school years are among the most memorable of your life. It’s a time when you stumble upon fascinating friendships and the mystery of discovering your identity.
You get to experiment without worrying about the results. That’s precisely why you should preserve your curiosity. The Serve Connecticut Community Impact Award was first offered in Connecticut in 2025. High school students who finish at least 20 hours of volunteer work on various projects are recognized. You see, even small efforts make a difference.
How often does success cross your mind? Fortunately, you don’t have to search for some magical Holy Grail. Success will be right around the corner, provided you learn its secrets now. This article will share three such secrets hidden in plain sight in your high school years.
Small Habits Have Big Impact
If Rome wasn’t built in a day, how can future success be? The little-known secret, at least to high-schoolers, is that the little habits you develop now will shape the course of your future.
Most of these years are focused on the flashy stuff: perfect grades and awards. However, the real game-changer is what you choose to do behind the scenes. Let’s use some examples to understand this better:
- Turning in your homework on time, even though you’d rather procrastinate and binge-watch Netflix
- Showing up for classes consistently without hitting the snooze button the eighth time
- Keeping your notes organized
- Speaking up in group projects, despite fear
Such tasks only seem insignificant or boring. In truth, the more you participate in them, the more they teach you secretly. What? Time management, discipline, and responsibility. These are skills your future self will thank you for, especially when deadlines are no longer mere suggestions.
Never underestimate the restorative power of small habits. They add up over time because consistency is where all the magic happens. As you tackle tasks in increments, your brain becomes more resilient without experiencing panic.
In the future, such habits can help you crush demanding college courses and even jobs where no one will guide your every step. So, stack up on ‘boring’ micro-habits. Don’t forget that simply showing up every day is revolutionary.
Your Interests Are Clues to Your Strengths
Here’s another secret your high school is unlikely to reveal in its morning intercom announcements. Your hobbies and weird little obsessions are treasure maps that point towards your future vocation.
Yes, this includes the following:
- Your fascination with dissecting frogs during Biology
- Your passion for solving Sudoku puzzles
- Your zeal for debating which superhero has the best strategy
They may be clues into what amazing things you’re capable of in the future. Consider high school a sneaky little laboratory. What excites you now can determine potential career paths that make work seem less like a chore and more like a fun game.
For instance, a student fascinated by Biology or helping others may discover a knack for healthcare early on. Even in reality, interest in this field is steadily on the rise. 5.13% of high school graduates chose Biology as their intended major in 2025.
If they follow these strengths through high school, these will guide future choices, eventually leading to advanced education in healthcare.
An example would be a Master’s course in Nursing. The prospects for students pursuing this course are bright. Besides the fact that with a Master’s of Nursing, salary potential improves, students also get ready for the future of healthcare.
Such students can serve in line with the complexity of the nursing system. Carson-Newman University shares that they can choose advanced career paths like those of a nurse administrator or a nurse informaticist. Pay attention to your current interests, and you will discover the building blocks of your future career.
Early Exposure Builds Confidence and Insight
A third vital secret that you need to discover now is this: stepping out of your comfort zone is not negotiable. If you do it now, you will get a major head start on life later.
High school is like a mini sandbox where there is plenty of scope to experiment and make mistakes. All the while, someone else (thankfully) handled all the big stakes. This is why students tend to get passive and focus only on their syllabus.
In truth, you should be utilizing this period for volunteering work, internships, and even part-time jobs if possible. Yes, these will act as boot camps for adulthood. You will learn useful skills like problem-solving and communication from the experiences you have.
Are you unsure of what to do? Here are some pertinent examples for high school students:
- Participate in a city council or government internship to gain knowledge of public policy and civil procedures.
- Get experience in project management and fundraising by working for a non-profit.
- Accept internships at museums or libraries to help with exhibit curation or archival projects.
- Join a nearby theater to help with design or production.
In 2024, one US high school expanded its internship program from just five students (2019) to over 180. More than 200 community organizations were hosting interns. This only shows that schools are increasingly recognizing internships as real opportunities for students to gain confidence and practical experience.
High school is a period where you’re allowed to fail safely, so why not? Testing your skills in a low-risk space sets you up to thrive later on in life.
There you have it! The cat is out of the bag now. Every single choice you make, even during your high school years, matters. This does not negate the good news that you’re still free to make trial and errors.
So, don’t just stick to what feels comfortable. Try out a new hobby and join that weird club. Each step will make your future self a little more confident, and maybe even ahead of the game.
