How to Make Money in High School

Hey Guys,

As a high school junior I have done a lot of things in order to make money. I know that sounds a bit snotty, and it is. However, being in high school can be super expensive especially when you have a ton of things you want to do. I have compiled a list of things to do to make money while in high school.

1. Get a job- I know this really applies to those that are 16 (at least where I live) because usually companies won't hire someone if they are younger than 16. I have a job at a local day care in a gym and I LOVE IT. I love kids and the constant schedule is great. Having a job that I go to 4 times a week is my main source of money. This is also a nice way to make consistent money. Apply to a ton of jobs if you want one.

2. Babysitting- I also babysit a ton and that is an easy way to make money. If you don't know anyone to babysit for, try putting something on Facebook. Yes Facebook. All the adults are on Facebook and they are the ones with the kids who need babysitters. There are also a lot of Facebook groups for teens in your area that are babysitters.

3. Garage Sales- These are super fun and you can make a lot quickly. Everyone has stuff they don't want anymore and selling it is a great way to get rid of it. You probably have a ton of clothes that are too small are you don't wear, sell them!

4. Make Something- If you have a talent or a passion you can probably make some sort of business out of it. I have a lot of friends that sell paintings or clothes. If you are amazing at painting, people will buy it. If you can make really cool clothes and you wear them, people will probably buy it!

5. Dog Walking- I did this a lot in middle school with my friends. We would make fliers saying we were going to come and walk your dog at a certain time if you put the sheet on your door. This worked super well and I got to hang out with dogs!

6. Snow Cone Stand- This works really well if you live in a neighbor hood. My friends and I used to put up a snow cone stand in front of their house before the middle school got out, and all the middle schoolers would walk by and buy one!

7. Mow Lawns- I haven't done this myself. but I have had a lot of friends that have. If you have a lawn mower and know how to mow a lawn, people will pay you to go mow it every few days. This is like having a job without as much commitment as a "real" job does.

I hope this helps for anyone that is looking to make a bit more money before summer. If you have any questions feel free to email me, I would love to talk to you!

School, AP Classes, and College Prep

Junior year has left me overwhelmed and tired. However, I love what it has taught me about my ability to hold myself accountable and push my self. I have come up with a few things that have helped me get threw this year.

Asking Questions: Slowly I have discovered that if I am confused or lost in a subject, I need to meet with the teacher. This could mean that during notes I raise my hand and ask questions. It could also mean that I need to go in before or after school. My math teacher has really pushed this idea through out the year and I have definitely seen a lot of improvement. 

Set Aside Time: I am very busy and rarely have spare time. I try to set about an hour and a half for homework each night. There are nights when I definitely need more time, on those days I usually will try my hardest to work it into my schedule. If I don't set aside enough time each day I won't be able to get all my work done.

Know Your Limits: I know that if I set 4 hours aside to study, I will not be able to. A big part of what I have grasped this year is to let myself be happy. That means that sometimes I won't go to a basketball game or hang out with friends because I know adding that will not make me feel better.

Use a Planner: My planner holds everything. It contains my work schedule, my homework, volunteer hours, and other activities. I have mine color coded by class and activities and from that I can just flip it open and know everything about that day, week, or month. For junior year it holds everything that you may need.

Talk to Your Teachers: Teachers are the best and the worst. We all have a teacher that we don't get along with, but that doesn't mean you don't want to create a relationship with them. Teacher's have the power to write recommendation letters, tell you your skills, and help you narrow down colleges. They also have helped so many other students who are in your same position and classes decide on what routes to take. I am not saying that you should become best friends with your teachers, but at least create a healthy relationship with them.

Get Involved in What You Like: I hate when people say get involved that list off 10 things you could never see yourself doing. What I have seen this year is that your friends don't always like the things you do and use that freedom to join other things. I hate sports and if anyone ever tells me to try out for a team I almost laugh because I have no interest in that. However, I do love where I volunteer and I truly have a passion for that. Also, I am involved in a freshman- upperclassman buddy group that helps freshman or new students learn how to navigate out high school.

Take Time for Yourself: Each night I have to go to bed at 10 because I know if I don't I will be a mess. This idea is super important to me because everyday I get super stressed and worked up about a lot of thins. However, in the end I have to know that every day is a new day. Each night I try to end the day by watching an episode or two of my favorite show with my mom and my dog. I also make sure I shower and complete my skin care routine so I can relax before I end the day.

College Lists: Weirdly enough, exactly a year from today (May 1st) I will know where I will be going to college! Right now it is important that I am researching colleges and writing down ones I am interested on some sort of list. From these lists I can do more research and then by next fall I (hopefully) will know exactly where I want to apply.

I hope this helped to anyone that is in the same boat as I or are going to be experiencing it soon. I wish you the best of luck!

Junior Year

This week I am going to be writing a post about the many parts of junior year and how to handle it. This will consist of tips and tricks that I have discovered during my junior year of high school.

So in case you didn't know I am a junior in High School. Many people say that junior year is the hardest year in high school and I can definitely agree with that. Not just academically but socially as well. This year has left me so tired and I definitely do not want to live junior year ever again.

This year I am taking 3 AP classes. This was such a jump for me because I have never taken any AP classes before. The one class that sticks out to be the hardest for me is AP chemistry. AP classes offer a lot of advantages to many students that would like to get college credit. However, AP chemistry was probably not my smartest choice. As hard as this class is it has challenged me in a way that I have never been challenged before. To all sophomores becoming juniors, this year sucks but it will help you grow.

I also work 14 hours a week at a local daycare. I love my job. I love kids and this job has shown me that I definitely want to work with kids when I am older. However, a job is another event to add to my busy schedule and limit my little free time. From work I have met some of my favorite kids and have made some amazing connections. Working also provides me with money so I can do fun things.

Finally I volunteer. I can't give too much information about where I volunteer because it is very specific, but it is one of my most rewarding things I do.

Why do I do all this? Because that is what colleges apparently want to see. This combination along with SAT's, AP tests, and then social events like prom leaves someone with little time. Getting through this sucks but it is something that I want to do.

However, the entire point of this is to show that during junior year you do not have to go to every football game or love events like prom. It is okay to cry when you get overwhelmed and its okay to tell people about how you feel.

Top 5 Netflix Shows

Hello Everyone,

Since today is presidents day and that means no school. I will be spending my time touring a college(whoop whoop love junior year) and pretending to do homework while watching Netflix. I have a few go to shows on Netflix.

Bones:
Bones is such a good show. It is a mystery/drama/thriller. It is amazing and I can't ever stop. Me and my mom have ended each day by watching a episode or 2. If you have time, start this show. You will not regret it.

Gilmore Girls:
Gilmore Girls will always be my all time favorite show ever. I can't tell you how much joy I get out of watching this show. The reboot was amazing. This show will always have a space in my heart. If you have a great relationship with your mom, this show will hit you hard. This show will always be in my continued watching, because I can never stop watching this show.

Grey's Anatomy:

Greys Anatomy is a great show, up to the recent season. On Netflix it is great because you can avoid the new season all together. This show started my love for Netflix, it is such a dramatic/romance that keeps me on my toes. No matter how many times I watch, it will continuously show me things I have never seen before. 

New Girl:
This show is so happy and uplifting. It is nice at the end of a stressful day where you want a non violent easy show. This is my go to on days like this. The main character is also the sister of the main character in Bones. This also has a great current season.

Friends:

Everyone knows of this show and for good reason. It is hilarious and filmed with humor. Each line and character is easily one of the best written things I know. My mom loves it, my dad does, my grandma, and my sister. This is the best common ground show without having to give up anything. 

I hope you guys enjoyed this and got to spend this day in a super relaxing way. 

Packing for the Weekend

Its been forever and I am sorry, but school got super stressful. It was the whole end of the semester finals chaos. However they were stressful, I did better than I could have ever hoped or expected them to go. Back to business, my parents are divorced and my dad lives out of state. However, he comes back every other weekend. From this I see him every other weekend and stay at his girlfriend's house then. I have practically mastered packing for a weekend.

First things first, always pack the necessities first and everything else comes second. Here are the first things that always go into my bag. With these few items I know I can spend the night and come and grab clothes in the morning if I need. 

• Undergarments 
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Face wash, moisturizer, deodorant
• PJ's
• Socks

Once these are in my bag I can get to the other things. I start with the most important staples of an outfit. For me that involves the next day essentials and other mandatory outfits.

• Work Uniform
• Jeans or leggings
• Versatile top
• Light Weight coat
• Makeup basics (foundation, concealer, powder, blush, and mascara)
• Change of shoes if needed

Finally these are the things that go into my bag last. This is anything that is more of a comfort to me than a necessity. These are also things I could go without, but are always nice additions to have.

• Perfume
• Jewelry
• Heavy coat (weather is always a mystery)
• Straightener

I hope this helps you guys. I know a lot of people have trouble when it comes to packing for times like this. I hope this can help any of you! Have a great day!