Students in Grade 8 are being given a road map for navigating high school, in the form of a virtual event hosted by the Newmarket Youth Leadership Group.
On Saturday, Oct. 29, the group is hosting a free seminar on Zoom featuring guest speakers, sharing tips and tricks about their own high school experiences, planning for the future, and making the most of those years.
Alex Zhao, president of the group and a Grade 12 student at Sacred Heart Catholic High School in Newmarket, said the virtual event will give students an idea of what to expect as they prepare for high school.
He said it is important to start planning what you might study in the future, especially if you want to go to university, and take the right courses "so when it comes to Grade 12, you're ready and you're not scrambling to try and find programs that you want to do."
Zhao also said it's not all about academics, students need to learn how to prioritize their time, schedule their day for balance, and find things they enjoy doing.
When he was going into high school, he said the biggest piece of advice he needed was to "try and discover what works for you."
For him that means using calendars and planners because he likes structure, but he said that might not work for everyone. He also said that balance is important and students shouldn't miss out on the fun things like school dances and hanging out with friends.
"You really want to enjoy this time of your life where you're really going to experience it only once," he said. "Try to make time for having some fun and fully experiencing life as a high school student."
The virtual Navigating High School event will cover those kind of topics and more, like getting involved in the community, preparing for the future, mental health, and personal growth.
This is not the first time the Newmarket Youth Leadership Group has hosted this kind of event. In June there was a similar seminar with guest speakers sharing about different career paths and help students create goals and plan for the future.
This upcoming event is from 4 to 5 p.m. on Oct. 29 and you can register for it online.