With Great Power: How To Handle (And Ask For) Additional Responsibilities In High School

If Spider-Man can handle it, so can you.

High school is the beginning of a transition towards something everyone looks forward to: freedom.

However, it can be difficult to balance what you want to do with what you should do. The way you approach this newfound responsibility can make or break your high school experience.

Fear not: By the time you’re done with high school, you’ll look back and wonder how you ever lived without these additional, rewarding responsibilities (except for those thousand-word assignments; you’ll know perfectly well how you managed without those.)

Putting Aside Free Time To Study

High school requires a different approach to study. Be wary that teachers are likely to supply you with optional tasks, or 'recommended' material that isn't compulsory, yet highly recommended.

At first, this new arrangement might seem daunting, and yes, it will sometimes mean you’ll have to go out of your way to do work when you could be relaxing. However, being given the option–and freedom–to study the way that suits you best is worth the additional effort.

Asking For More Homework (It’s A Thing)

If fewer people are going to be forcing you to get things done, you're going to have to take matters into your own hands. It's not just about deciding when to study, but what to study.

Starting early, asking questions and doing more than is strictly asked of you is the best way to operate. It might sound like a terrible idea to take on an extra set of questions, or practice extra material, but you’ll appreciate the head-start in the long run.

The dynamic between you and your teachers will change as well. As the next few years go by, teachers will treat you as more mature (provided, of course, you act that way). You’ll be able to ask for more flexibility with the work they give you and overall be treated like an equal. If approached right, this can make your study far easier and more enjoyable. Just don't push it too far.

Prepare To Change As A Person

This is the big one. Everything ‘social’ changes in high school. What’s ‘cool’ changes, how social groups are divided changes and how you define and express yourself (both in and outside of school) will change.

A lot of people (parents and students alike) underestimate how fast this happens and often try to resist it. This is a bad (and futile) approach. You’re being exposed to new people, schedules, information and possibilities. It’d be more concerning if people didn’t change dramatically!

The best approach is to avoid taking these changes personally. Interests change and if you lose an old friend when they move to another group, it’s often not because of any ill will. They’ve just changed, and most likely so have you.

Embrace changes and be flexible; try not to dwell on the things you leave behind. You’ll be best off if you look to the new opportunities, rather than the old ones which are no longer there.

You're Not Alone

The most important thing is that you're not expected to work it all out for yourself. If you're not 100 per cent sure about something, your teachers, a school counsellor, or the folks at ReachOut will be able to give you help and advice.

It's likely they remember what it's like to go through those changes too, and they can give you the help you need to ensure you can make the best out of your newfound freedom.

Photo: iStock