By Oscar McConnell
As I approach my final days at Newington, I thought it would be appropriate to offer the 8 most important lessons and thoughts for one’s >me at school. These aren’t school guidelines, nor the teachers’ ones, but instead my individual thoughts on how to best spend the 6 years at Newington.
1. Try everything you can.
Looking back on my school days, there is not a single opportunity I have regretted taking, only things I wish I had done. Every club, group, or sport is a genuine avenue to try preGy cool and unique things
2. Try hard.
Without sacrificing yourself in the pursuit of good grades, give everything a goodcrack! While I’m not saying that everything should be about your marks, at least not until year 12, never become the person who thinks it’s ‘uncool’ to try. Pick a sport, co-curricular, or subject and try to make a 1st team or top the class.
3. Try to enjoy your classes
If there is a single way to maximise your marks for a class, fulfilling the effort ofthe prior point, it is to find some interest and fun in the work. Don’t just take lessons on the surface but go a bit deeper into them – ask questions about the topics you like and maybe do some personal research into these areas.
4. Go on a School trip.
If there is one thing I regret not doing in school, it is missing out on the opportunity to go on an international trip. Whenever I speak to someone aUer one of these tours, they seem as if they have had the >me of their life – and, to be fair, they probably have. 2 weeks with some of your best mates travelling across Europe or the US sounds is likely going to be one of the most fun experiences of your entire life..
5. Make good friends.
If there is one thing that is guaranteed to improve your school experience, it is doing it with a group of good friends. Be a good friend to them, and they’ll return the favour to you. It’ll make the good times even better, and they can help you through the tough moments. Take these friends on school tours and join clubs with them.
6. Fail more.
A bit cliché, I know, but it is genuinely such an important piece of advice. If you genuinely want to improve or change, you need to put yourself in challenging situations – situations that will open you to failure. Failure makes you tougher and teaches you how to deal with tough moments – you’ll come out smarter, more resilient, and ready to succeed.
7. Read more.
The most prevalent differentiator between those who do well in the humanities subjects and those who don’t, is how much they read. While it is far easier to scroll TikTok and binge-watch Netflix, the effort required to find a good book, one that you genuinely enjoy, will be well worth it. Even if it begins as just a few pages before bed, something is definitely better than nothing here.
8. Enjoy it.
Thought I would end it on the most cliché note possible, but whatever, you do make sure that you have some fun doing it. It’s incredibly easy to take school far too seriously and spend 6 years in a whirlwind of exams, stress, struggle, and homework. But these are probably some of the most carefree and enjoyable years of your en>re life – make sure to use them well.