38. [Pep Talk] Top 4 things your teen could do right now to make this your best school year, yet!

Are you ready to make this school year your best one yet? Join me, Sonia Cacique, as I share my top tips for taking control of the year ahead, whether you're entering your first year of high school or stepping into your senior year. I’ll explain why every new school year holds immense potential for personal and academic growth, and how reflecting on past experiences can guide your future. I’ll also share why embracing new beginnings is a golden opportunity to redefine yourself and explore new passions.

But it doesn't stop at self-discovery. We'll delve into the powerful role of goal setting in achieving a successful year. I’ll guide you through breaking down your aspirations into actionable steps and how an accountability partner can keep you focused and motivated. So tune in, because this episode is packed with tools and strategies designed to help you navigate the exciting journey of high school and beyond. Together, we’ll make this school year a launchpad for your success. Let’s get started, shall we?

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Transcript

Sonia Cacique: 0:00

Welcome to the College and Career Ready podcast. You go to resource for all things related to preparing our students for success in their college and career journey. My name is Sonia Cacique and I will be your host and guide on this exciting journey towards a bright future. Our mission is simple to empower our parents and students by elevating their confidence and resourcefulness. We believe that you deserve all the tools and support necessary to open the doors to endless possibilities of success and, with our community, you don't have to do this alone. So come with me and let's get started. Welcome to the College and Career Ready podcast, your guide to navigating the exciting world of high school and beyond. I'm your host, Sonia Cacique, and today we have a special episode designed just for you, high school students. At the time of this episode release, we will be in the month of July, Almost getting ready for the next school year. Can you believe that? Which, by the way, if you have not heard our last pep talk, episode, number 36, go check it out. I go over easy top ways to maximize the remainder of your summer. So go check it out. I will have the episode on our show notes.

Sonia Cacique: 1:22

Today, friend, I will be sharing with you on this episode why this year has the potential to be your best year yet and truly, my friend, you being here today is already a great start because you are investing in your future right now, in this moment. So I congratulate you, my friend. But before we dive into today's episode, I want to ask you to spread the word about our community, about our podcast. I'm working on a lot of things behind the scenes for all of my students, so spread the word and bring your parents on board too. I want them to be hearing the same message you are receiving. We will all work together to help you accomplish all of your dreams. So continue to spread the word about our podcast. Okay, so let's dive right in. I'm going to be sharing with you top four tips on how to have the best year ever yet. Okay, so I'm going to start with number one, and it's reflecting on your high school experience.

Sonia Cacique: 2:28

Now, before we embrace the opportunities of the upcoming school year, let's take a moment to reflect on your high school journey so far. Okay, if you're thinking, oh my gosh, Sonia, this past year was not the best, that's okay. Think about the valuable lessons that you've learned, the personal growth experiences, the challenges that you encountered and hopefully even overcame. Write them down. Take some time to just write them down somewhere, whether it's a journal, a planner, even on your notes section of your phone. Write what has been your greatest challenges that you have overcome up to this point. Trust me, you will have things to write down. You just have to think back. Okay, all right if this is too broad for you, if thinking about anything that you have struggled with or had a challenge with, okay, let's bring it down a notch. Let's think about this last school year. Okay, what was the most challenging thing that you did this last school year? What were moments when you were like I can't do this? Or, oh, my goodness, I have this project to turn in and it's about to be due. Think about those moments and how you pushed through. Do you remember what you did to get to the other side? Or maybe who helped you?

Sonia Cacique: 3:54

All of this, my friend, is important for us to write down and reflect. Listen, even me telling you this. I have to write down my own things as well. I encounter situations where I'm like I don't know if I can do this, or this is something new, or what if I don't have the potential. What if I don't have the capabilities and the what ifs and what ifs and what ifs? This is why I also write down some of the big obstacles that I have overcome in my life to go back in reference and let me tell you, it doesn't help just writing them down, okay. So make sure you spend some time reflecting on it, and that's why I included this tip right at the beginning of this episode, because I really want you to reflect back on your past so you can grow from it. We all need these reminders to ourselves, especially throughout the year as things get a little tough.

Sonia Cacique: 4:48

So right now, you've been enjoying the summer, hopefully having a little bit of a laid back time. This is the time to reflect, get everything in writing, set everything ready so you can have your tools ready when you encounter challenging situations. You have your guide right there, your journal, that you reflect on the things that you have overcome and that have been challenging at the time, but you pushed through and you were successful. So when you're having that moment of doubt, you can quickly reference it and remind yourself of your potential. Because, guess what? You have been doing this all of your life already. Think about when you were a baby. You learned to crawl, you learned to walk, you learned to ride a bike, swimming, completing tough projects during school. You've done this, my friend. You've done this all your life. You've had difficult situations, but you've pushed through.

Sonia Cacique: 5:46

What do most toddlers do as they are starting to learn to walk? Do they just go from crawling and just start walking? No, they have to learn to walk. They have to get up and they have to fall, and they have to get back up, and then they fall and then they get back up, and they do this continuously. They don't give up. Well, that is the same for all of us, In any situation, no matter how old we are. We have to learn to fall down and then get ourselves back up, because that is part of the learning process. We all encounter it at many points of our lives, at any stage of our lives, for that matter.

Sonia Cacique: 6:24

Now, if you have time to write a daily or weekly gratitude journal or an accomplishment journal, do it. That's awesome. But for most of us, that might not necessarily be the case or we might not have enough time or quote unquote time in our schedule, but there are times like this, like right now, that I'm telling you to take action, then do it, Take action, write it down and save it. This is your little reminder already, so you can sit down and evaluate all the things that you've accomplished so far and, if you don't want to take it too broad again, just focus on the last year. Each year has shaped you, my friend, into the resilient individual you are today Number two, embracing new beginnings.

Sonia Cacique: 7:10

So the start of a new school year symbolizes fresh beginnings and exciting opportunities. It's a chance to redefine yourself, explore new interests and deepen existing passions. Whether you're entering freshman year or stepping into your senior year, this year holds immense potential for personal and academic growth. It's a fresh new start, New teachers. Have you ever had that one teacher that, no matter what you do, you feel like you can just never make her happy? Do you remember that teacher? Do you have one of those? Okay, well, you're starting from scratch. You're starting from fresh. When I was a high school teacher myself, I loved every new school year because guess what? It was a whole new set of students that I got to meet and learn from and teach to. So this is a great opportunity for you to start over and start from scratch. It's an opportunity to start from a fresh, clean new slate. So who said that? Who you were last year has to define who you are today? Because I don't know about you, but I'm constantly evolving. Honestly, any living creature my friend changes and evolves, and so do you. So brush yourself off and get to a new start.

Sonia Cacique: 8:35

Number three setting goals. Okay, so, you've heard me talk about setting goals probably a lot on this podcast but, truth be told, goal setting is the secret ingredient to a successful year. So take the time to set some goals that align with your passions, aspirations and dreams, Break them into actionable steps and monitor your progress along the way. Remember the accountability partner I've talked about in the past. This is the time to get an accountability partner so they can help you on those times when you're really not feeling your best self. Setting goals empowers you to stay focused, motivated and inspired throughout the year. Because, guess what, If it isn't written down somewhere, it doesn't happen or it doesn't exist. So write them down, or put it on your calendar or on your notes section of your phone, somewhere you can see them to reference. Now let me say this it doesn't make any sense to write them down if you don't see them regularly. It's put into your daily routine of getting out your calendar, your notes and going over your goals and make sure you have small actionable items that you could do one at a time. Even if you have to start small, my friend, but start Okay.

Sonia Cacique: 10:00

Number four, and this is our last one building a supportive network. So high school is not just about academics. It's also about building relationships. Surround yourself with a supportive network of friends, mentors and teachers who share your values and aspirations. Join clubs, organizations and extracurricular activities that fuel your interest. These connections will provide encouragement, guidance and a sense of belonging. Hey, listen, we all want to feel like we belong, okay, so this is a great opportunity for you to find that. Don't know where to find some. Feel free to DM me and we can definitely brainstorm together, but go find your people and friend.

Sonia Cacique: 10:49

I should also add that this might be a good time to evaluate your current people. What do I mean by that? Well, if you have someone you hang around with that just brings you down, maybe you have a friend that, when you leave, you feel either sad, depressed or even become self-critical this is a sign that you might want to reconsider your relationship. Life is too dang short to be weighed down by other people. You have so much potential. You just need to be surrounded by the right people, my friend, and this is a great opportunity to do so. It's a fresh new start, a fresh new school year.

Sonia Cacique: 11:34

So let's recap, let's take inventory and see what you can do to get you started on the right track, because I want to see you succeed. So number one was reflecting on your high school experiences. Number two, especially focusing on times that you had to overcome major obstacles. Reflect on those and bonus points if you write them down. Number two, embracing new beginnings. Okay, this is a fresh new beginning for you. Number three, setting goals. Remember, even if it's just one, two or three goals, but set goals, even if you have to start small, but just start. And number four, building a supportive network. And guess what, my friend? You are already building your supportive network in your community by tuning in to this podcast. So I congratulate you because you're on the right track. Now let's start building that support as you start this new school year.

Sonia Cacique: 12:37

As we conclude today's episode, I want to inspire you to approach this upcoming school year with enthusiasm and determination. Reflect on your high school journey so far, set ambitious goals and build a supportive network. Remember, this year holds incredible opportunities for personal and academic growth. I can't wait to hear and see what all you accomplish. Thank you for tuning in to the College and Career Ready podcast. If you found today's episode insightful and motivating, please share it with a friend, Text them the link directly or, even better, Post it on social media and tag me so I can personally thank you. Make sure to subscribe to our podcast for more valuable content tailored to high school students like you. As you embark on this exciting journey, stay focused, stay passionate and make this year your best year yet. Until next time, my sweet friend adios.