High Schoolers – Which is More Important, TikTok or the Clock That’s Ticking on Your Future?

It might seem that students are back on track now that they are in the classroom again after the pandemic, but studies show that it may take another year or two to fully catch up on their education. Here are two simple New Year’s resolutions for students to keep their education moving forward.

“First resolution for 2023 is to keep your eye on the prize – graduation,” said Lindsay Reese, area superintendent. “A high school diploma means they are more likely to have a longer life, increased employment opportunities and more money over their lifetime.”

Students can motivate themselves by remembering the value of a high school diploma. For every year of high school that a student completes, their lifetime wealth will increase by at least 15 percent.¹ Graduates are significantly less likely to be incarcerated², a single, teen parent³ or dependent on government assistance⁴.

The second resolution says Reese, is to focus on time management. “Which is more important…hours spent on TikTok or the ticking clock toward your own future?” She says that by learning how to manage their time, students will get better at decision-making, perform better at work and school and earn more responsibility and independence. “Plus, they’ll find they have less anxiety when school projects are due or upcoming tests and have more time to relax and unwind with family and friends.”

• Having a schedule is crucial to effective time management. Plan everything to maximize your time and limit the amount of time being wasted doing unnecessary things.
• Don’t be afraid to say no. It’s okay to say no if your friend asks you to go to a movie one night but you have a test the next morning. Instead, find a time that works for both of you and go see the movie then.
• Find your productive time. Are you a morning person or a night person? You’ll be more efficient if you work when you’re at your best.
• Treat time like money. Organized people dole out time as if it’s a precious commodity. Spending time on necessary tasks simply yields a better return on investment.
• When studying, schedule breaks to relax and refresh. Set a timer and give yourself 15 minutes to socialize or be on social media. When that timer goes off, continue to study. When other people interrupt you while you’re studying, let them know you’re busy and when you’ll be available.

Reese encourages parents to teach and reinforce time management skills and help them balance schoolwork and fun activities. “You may need to help them set goals and plan steps to reach them,” she added. Look for helpful articles like this one, How to Make a Better Homework Schedule.