Budget Surprises

When I created my future budget as a college student living on campus, there was so much to take in. First, I realized how much monthly I have to earn from a part-time job. A job that doesn't pay much or leave me quite enough to have for extra activities. It is a really tight budget! However, I did expect the small room and usual sharing of space with a roommate. When the time comes for me to go off to college and experience the real 'college life', I think eventually I would adapt to the constant flow of giving and getting money as well as keeping up with my studies. It would be a different lifestyle and I realize that I would have many bills that would fail to be paid. However, by the time I graduate from high school and have job experience, the debt would not be as bad. Training in keeping up with the house would also help with my college apartment and job. Also, in social skills with keeping a good relationship with my roommate and making friends at college. Then lastly, studying in school and keeping up with grades would increase my determination to graduate. I will be ready when the time comes for college.

Top Career Choice

     My top career choice would be a Psychologist, I enjoy people and their different behaviors. Pursuing this career would interest me because I am perplexed by the different emotions and state of being in a person and how quickly they change in an instant or over time. Being a psychologist would let me listen to people's problems and try to help them get better or record and just listen to what they have to say. Sometimes all a person needs is someone to hear them out, and that's what I would do.

Stress

My score on the stress test was 12 out of 24. Stress is always known for young adults as 'school'. For me, this cannot be more accurate. Almost every teen who goes to school, stays at school for eight hours (on average) and then goes home to another 1-3 hours of homework. This alone is dragging, but outside activities make free time seem like seconds and social interaction as a chore.
I should know, once school is out at 3:45 p.m. I go straight to the bus for volleyball practice. Then after practice ends at 6 p.m. I take the 30-45 minute drive home, take a shower, eat dinner, do dishes, and get my lunch and clothes ready for the next day. By that time, its almost 9 and I'm exhausted. I still haven't started my homework and the assignments are piling in my head, How do I cope with this stress?
First, breathe. Let every worry, every situation, escape for a second. Think about the things that you absolutely NEED to get done and what you can get ahead on. That way, you won't think about the distracting elements around you ( ie. phone, friends, tv, etc). Try to put all those things away until you get done. Or if you are going to use your phone, put on music. Music helps me to focus on my homework, however, if I put on a playlist full of songs I really like I tend to get distracted. So I play slow and boring music to focus.
Lastly, take a break in between assignments or set a time limit for how much you are going to work on. And in your breaks go outside and or socially interact with someone in the house to prevent stress.    

Organization/Procrastination

 Organization can be a struggle for many teens who are overwhelmed with endless responsibilities and outside activities. However, a method I recommended might help the stress go down. 
A planner, whether it be online or paperback organizer, you will NEED a planner. For each day labeled write down the classes for the entire week. This way you won't be furiously jotting down random test dates with no class labeled next to them. Throughout the day when you are given future tests/quizzes/projects for later in the week, write it down! And write down to study all that week for the test. That way, you will not be struggling to memorize the information the night before and you feel more confident and prepared to conquer the test/quiz/project. Also, practices and important events after school and on the weekends can be recorded in your planner as well so you don't forget. 
For me, this organizer is vital everyday so I don't forget anything. It hasn't failed me, and will continue to be a necessity during school to keep me on top of my grades and outside activities. 
 However, there is a whole different story with "lolly-gaggers" or 'procrastinators'. Procrastination not only displays your effort, but it also shows in your overall time in the paper or project. Sometimes those people get lucky and make a good grade, other times they fail miserably. To prepare and make effort in anything will cause success no matter how small. One way you can avoid procrastinating is getting it all done in school. That way you are free the whole rest of the day. Another way would be to "divide and conquer". If it's a major project you can set dates and get a certain amount finished by that time. Or even with studying for a big final; you can set a timer for thirty minutes to study for a subject, then take a five minute break, and move on to another subject for another thirty minutes. 
  So don't wait till the last minute to start! Your grades are on the line! If you feel you are slowly starting not to care about your grades, (which is what many of us do), remember this is just a step toward your future goals for college or your dream job. High School is not forever and it certainly isn't like the real world, however, high school teaches and prepares us for the people and education we will eventually meet. So don't give up! And get your work over with so you don't have to worry about it later.

Hi, my name is Abby Munoz. I am a junior in Life School Waxahachie, and will graduate with the class of 2016. I enjoy reading, running track, playing volleyball, spending time with friends/family, and listening to music. I am a part of the NHS, student council, and am a active member of my church. I love to volunteer at my church with summer camps, bike races, bake sales, etc.
In the college transition class, I hope to learn anything and everything my future as a college student. Such as: applying and conquering scholarships for various schools, writing essays colleges would approve of, paying next to nothing for books and tuition, interviews, applying for college application, and most importantly.......staying out of debt!