High school is often a time of significant personal and academic growth, and it can feel like both a long and short period of time. So is it true that high school goes by fast?
Reasons High School Goes By Fast
Some people find that high school goes by very fast and that it is over before they know it, while others feel like it takes a long time. Ultimately, the speed at which high school goes by depends on the individual student and their experiences during this time. However, it is common for people to look back on their high school years and feel that they passed quickly.
It’s About Perception
One’s level of enjoyment can influence the perception of time. The opposite is true if students have a positive and fulfilling experience in high school.
When people have a satisfactory experience, they are often engaged and absorbed in the present moment. This can make the time feel like it is passing more quickly because they are not focusing on the passing of time itself but rather on the activities and experiences they are having.
On the other hand, if a person is struggling or unhappy, they may be more aware of the passing of time and may feel like it is moving more slowly. This is because they are not as engaged or absorbed in the present moment and may focus more on their unhappiness or struggles.
In the case of high school, if a student is enjoying their time there and engaging in activities that bring them fulfillment and happiness, they may look back on their high school years with fond memories and feel like it went by quickly.
Busy Bees
Students are often very busy with a variety of activities, such as classes, sports, extracurricular clubs, and part-time jobs, which can make the days and weeks fly by.
Students involved in multiple activities often have a packed schedule that keeps them busy and engaged. Constantly moving from one activity to the next and not having much downtime can evoke the sense of time passing quickly.
Four Years
Four years of high school is relatively short in the grand scheme of things, making it feel like the high school years pass quickly when looking back on them.
High school is a short period of time when compared to a person’s overall lifespan. Looking back, these years are such a small part of a person’s overall experience.
Moreover, when people are younger, time can feel like it is moving more quickly because there are fewer years to look back on and compare to the present.
As people get older and have more years of life experience, time seems to move more slowly because there is a longer reference point to compare to the present. This can contribute to some people’s feeling that high school goes by fast.
Lastly, high school students are at an age where they are transitioning into adulthood and may be more focused on the future, which can make the present feel like it is passing more quickly.
How To Make The Most Of Your High School Years
Making the most of your high school years involves finding ways to engage in activities and experiences that are meaningful and fulfilling to you.
This can include participating in extracurricular clubs or sports, participating in volunteer work or community service, taking challenging academic classes, and finding part-time work or internships that align with your interests and goals.
It can also involve building positive relationships with peers, teachers, and mentors and seeking out opportunities for personal and academic growth.
By focusing on activities and experiences that are meaningful to you, you can ensure that your high school years are rewarding and memorable. Let’s explore what you can do to make the most of your high school years below.
Get Involved
Extracurricular clubs and sports can be a great way to make the most of your high school years because they provide opportunities to engage in activities that align with your interests and goals.
By joining clubs or sports teams, you can meet new people with similar interests, learn new skills, and have fun while participating in activities that you enjoy.
This can help you stay engaged and motivated in high school and make your time there more rewarding and memorable. It is also a great way to make lasting friendships.
Besides, involvement in extracurricular clubs and sports can look good on college and job applications and can help you build essential skills such as teamwork, communication, and leadership.
Work On Your Volunteering
Participating in volunteer work or community service can be a great way to make the most of your high school years because it allows you to give back to your community and make a positive impact.
By volunteering, you can learn new skills, meet new people, and contribute to important causes. This can be a fulfilling and rewarding experience that helps you feel more connected to your community and makes your high school years more meaningful.
Lastly, many high schools require students to put in hours toward helping the community to be allowed to graduate. If you want to learn how many high school credits are needed to graduate, check out my article!
Work Work Work
Finding part-time work or internships that align with your interests and goals can be a great way to make the most of your high school years because it allows you to gain valuable experience in a field that you are interested in.
Working or interning part-time can help students learn new skills, meet new people, and develop their professional skills and experience. This is a great way to explore your interests and goals and determine what you want to pursue in the future.
Push Yourself Academically
Taking challenging academic classes in high school can be a great way to make the most of your high school years because it allows you to excel academically and prepare for college or the workforce.
Consider taking advanced or honors classes to challenge yourself academically and develop your critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
This can help you stand out in college and job applications, and better prepare you for the academic and professional challenges you will face in the future. But you don’t have to wait; start taking high school AP classes for college credit.
Furthermore, taking challenging classes can be rewarding and fulfilling because they allow you to learn and grow academically and make your high school years more meaningful.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, it is common for people to say that high school goes by fast. Several factors can contribute to this perception, such as a student’s busy schedule, the focus on personal and academic growth, and the relatively short duration of the four years.
Some students find that high school goes by fast because they are engaged in a variety of activities and experiences that are meaningful and fulfilling to them. Others may feel like high school goes by slowly if they are struggling or unhappy during this time.
Ultimately, the speed at which high school goes by depends on the individual student and their experiences during this time. However, it is common for people to look back on their high school years and feel that they passed quickly.
