High school hasn’t always been easy, and perhaps each student in this school can agree with me. Many things pile on to each other to make high school a hard period in our lives, ranging from long hours, hard classes, and from time to time, difficult students and teachers. In spite of these struggles, there’s always a way to make your time here enjoyable.

You may not always have control over what happens to you, but you do have control of how you approach difficult situations, and that’s perhaps the most important bit of advice to keep in mind more than anything I’m about to tell you. Either way, keep these tips in mind, for I believe they can be just as helpful to achieve – at the very least – an enjoyable experience for the remainder of your years here in high school.

When you’re at school, always try to complete your homework during your lunch break or when you’ve got extra time before getting home, as this will make pretty much all of your classes stress-free. Put your phone away and try to just focus on the class and on what the teacher is saying. If you have any questions, tell your teacher; if you know an answer to a question, participate.

Create a list of all the things you’re planning to do in the future, school or otherwise, as this can save you some time from having to remember or re-plan your activities. I know this is going to sound obvious, but working on yourself and constantly improving will eventually lead to great results. Most people already know this tip, but they probably don’t understand what it truly means to put it into practice.

Write down your thoughts, dreams, and experiences, so that in the future, you can see who you once were and how much you’ve grown. It may even bring back delightful memories that can help bring up your mood.

High school shouldn’t be treated as the main task in your current life. Instead, you should treat it as a side task, and allow yourself to explore new hobbies or assignments that can occupy your afternoon. Just make sure you’re not neglecting your responsibilities. Try to only enjoy yourself when all your work is done, as this makes your breaks much more satisfying.

In any social setting, do what resonates with you the most, not whatever is expected of you. Don’t just go through the motions, but try standing out. Try going out of your way to meet new people, ask out that person you’ve been crushing on, demonstrate to yourself that you’re capable of creating your own happiness, don’t let a great opportunity go to waste. Just make sure it’s not at the expense of someone else’s happiness.

I know it can be hard for any student to apply these principles into their lives when they’re already so mentally and physically drained from everything school related, I know I am, and even I at times fumble the bag and forget to take my own advice. But the first step in bettering yourself is acknowledging that there is a problem and going off from there.

It doesn’t matter who you are, your mental health is just as important as everyone else’s.