What if I were to tell you that getting into a prestigious university has less do with being the “perfect student” and more to do with the opportunities around you and what to do with those opportunities?
There is no clear secret formula for building a strong education. However, there is a difference between wanting to simply go to school and actively using your very own education to build the future you want or dream to have.
If you are in high school and already pondering about college, my biggest and most helpful piece of advice is quite simple: start before you think you need to.
You do not need to have your entire life planned out. The easiest step you can take is merely asking yourself what interests you. What subjects make you curious? What world problems deeply touch you? What careers sound interesting? Or what can you see yourself doing that will not exhaust and drain you? Your answers can change, but having a vague direction gives you something to work towards.
And when you do have an idea, look for ways to engage in it. Research programs, internships, volunteering, summer opportunities, competitions, clubs, and potentially a few advanced courses connected to your interests. When I first became interested in neuroscience at a young age because of my little brother and his conditions, I intentionally looked for opportunities that allowed me to explore my curiosity and those fields beyond my general classes. This became an important part of my academic journey.
You also do not need to join everything at once.
A long list of extracurriculars does not automatically make it a meaningful one. Choose a few things that genuinely interest you and give them your time and effort. If you notice a problem in your school or community, consider acting on it. My school’s sustainability program began with something so ordinary: noticing that trash and recyclables were being mixed together. That simple observation led to a school wide effort to educate students and staff and improve how our school system handled waste.
I could not stress this enough: please, talk to your teachers.
This is genuinely one of the most underestimated resources students have. Tell your teachers what you are interested in. Ask questions. Stay after class. Request extra help when you need it. When I first entered an American school, I deeply struggled to understand English and spent hours after school using free resources like Khan Academy and i-Ready to catch up with my peers. Additionally, I asked my teachers for one-on-one support, even when I felt embarrassed doing so. That habit taught me something I still use to this day: asking for help is an academic skill, not an academic weakness. Even if you feel as though your concern is elementary, it will bring a fresh new perspective to the class and discussion.
Your teachers can also become some of your greatest guides throughout your high school journey and even after. My chemistry teacher and guidance counselor knew my interests well enough to send opportunities my way. Building those relationships early also matters later when you end up needing recommendation letters. A teacher who knows your character, life story, growth, and work ethic can write far more meaningfully about you than someone who merely knows your grade.
When college applications arrive, preparation becomes incredibly important. Research various universities early. Keep a spreadsheet of deadlines, requirements, scholarships, essays, as well as recommendation letters. Please begin your personal statement before senior year. Give yourself time to write several ideas and notice which story feels natural to you. Your essay should reflect something genuine about how you think and how you have grown thus far, rather than become a resume written in bland paragraph form.
Take admission exams like the infamous SAT and ACT early enough to leave yourself room to improve. Apply for scholarships. Visit colleges when possible. Attend information sessions. Research departments, programs, professors, student organizations, and opportunities that actually interest you. That research will make your application more specific and help you determine whether a university genuinely fits your goals.
I learned many of these lessons through various trials and errors. I eventually graduated as valedictorian of Metropolitan Business Academy with honors, received citations from New Haven Board of Alders and Connecticut Attorney General recognizing my academic achievements, and was accepted to multiple highly selective universities before choosing Columbia University. If I am being completely honest, none of those milestones happened from one perfect decision. They came from hundreds of smaller decisions to ask, research, apply, practice, try again , and keep learning.
Most importantly, do not confuse working hard with exhausting yourself.
Make time for your family. Keep your friendships. Exercise. Go outside. Do something that has absolutely nothing to do with your college application or academics. Protecting your energy is part of sustaining your ambitions.
Your high school years are not necessarily a race to become impressive. They are a chance to discover what matters to you, build the skills to pursue it, and learn how to use every resource within reach.
Start small. Ask the question. Send the email. Apply for the opportunity. Create something. Ask for help.
Then do it again .
That is how you build a future.
There is no clear secret formula for building a strong education. However, there is a difference between wanting to simply go to school and actively using your very own education to build the future you want or dream to have.
If you are in high school and already pondering about college, my biggest and most helpful piece of advice is quite simple: start before you think you need to.
You do not need to have your entire life planned out. The easiest step you can take is merely asking yourself what interests you. What subjects make you curious? What world problems deeply touch you? What careers sound interesting? Or what can you see yourself doing that will not exhaust and drain you? Your answers can change, but having a vague direction gives you something to work towards.
And when you do have an idea, look for ways to engage in it. Research programs, internships, volunteering, summer opportunities, competitions, clubs, and potentially a few advanced courses connected to your interests. When I first became interested in neuroscience at a young age because of my little brother and his conditions, I intentionally looked for opportunities that allowed me to explore my curiosity and those fields beyond my general classes. This became an important part of my academic journey.
You also do not need to join everything at once.
A long list of extracurriculars does not automatically make it a meaningful one. Choose a few things that genuinely interest you and give them your time and effort. If you notice a problem in your school or community, consider acting on it. My school’s sustainability program began with something so ordinary: noticing that trash and recyclables were being mixed together. That simple observation led to a school wide effort to educate students and staff and improve how our school system handled waste.
I could not stress this enough: please, talk to your teachers.
This is genuinely one of the most underestimated resources students have. Tell your teachers what you are interested in. Ask questions. Stay after class. Request extra help when you need it. When I first entered an American school, I deeply struggled to understand English and spent hours after school using free resources like Khan Academy and i-Ready to catch up with my peers. Additionally, I asked my teachers for one-on-one support, even when I felt embarrassed doing so. That habit taught me something I still use to this day: asking for help is an academic skill, not an academic weakness. Even if you feel as though your concern is elementary, it will bring a fresh new perspective to the class and discussion.
Your teachers can also become some of your greatest guides throughout your high school journey and even after. My chemistry teacher and guidance counselor knew my interests well enough to send opportunities my way. Building those relationships early also matters later when you end up needing recommendation letters. A teacher who knows your character, life story, growth, and work ethic can write far more meaningfully about you than someone who merely knows your grade.
When college applications arrive, preparation becomes incredibly important. Research various universities early. Keep a spreadsheet of deadlines, requirements, scholarships, essays, as well as recommendation letters. Please begin your personal statement before senior year. Give yourself time to write several ideas and notice which story feels natural to you. Your essay should reflect something genuine about how you think and how you have grown thus far, rather than become a resume written in bland paragraph form.
Take admission exams like the infamous SAT and ACT early enough to leave yourself room to improve. Apply for scholarships. Visit colleges when possible. Attend information sessions. Research departments, programs, professors, student organizations, and opportunities that actually interest you. That research will make your application more specific and help you determine whether a university genuinely fits your goals.
I learned many of these lessons through various trials and errors. I eventually graduated as valedictorian of Metropolitan Business Academy with honors, received citations from New Haven Board of Alders and Connecticut Attorney General recognizing my academic achievements, and was accepted to multiple highly selective universities before choosing Columbia University. If I am being completely honest, none of those milestones happened from one perfect decision. They came from hundreds of smaller decisions to ask, research, apply, practice, try again , and keep learning.
Most importantly, do not confuse working hard with exhausting yourself.
Make time for your family. Keep your friendships. Exercise. Go outside. Do something that has absolutely nothing to do with your college application or academics. Protecting your energy is part of sustaining your ambitions.
Your high school years are not necessarily a race to become impressive. They are a chance to discover what matters to you, build the skills to pursue it, and learn how to use every resource within reach.
Start small. Ask the question. Send the email. Apply for the opportunity. Create something. Ask for help.
Then do it again .
That is how you build a future.
