Matthew Isaacs, Dixie H.S.: "The one thing I would have done differently my four years of high school would be I would have studied a little more and not have given my teachers such a hard time on occasion. I realize now that if I would have studied a little harder I would have gotten better grades and could have gotten more scholarships."
Ian Farler, Bellbrook H.S.: "If I could change anything with my high school experience, I would have been more worried about the academic aspect as an underclassman. When I started freshman year I wasn't thinking about going off to college, I was focused on having fun and just getting by on the bare minimum."
Zack Martin, Bellbrook H.S.: "If I could change anything from my past four years in high school, I would have branched out to more groups of people sooner. Many of my good friends and some of my best memories I only have because I reached out to people in the middle of my sophomore year that I never would have my freshman year."
Zakkiyat Muhammed, Thurgood Marshall H.S.: "I would have joined more activities, clubs and done a lot more studying. I'm not very social but I get along with people, and clubs and social activities would have made me more sociable. I'm a shy, quiet person, and that could have helped me."
Jack Begley, Chaminade Julienne H.S.: "I would have taken my freshman and sophomore years more seriously; those grades in your undergraduate classes affect your overall GPA and really matter. I'd also have worked on college sooner — applying, writing my college essay, narrowing down the search and deciding on schools. I might have gotten involved in sports earlier and more as a way to make friends; I played baseball this year, but that was the first time since sixth grade."
Cameron Rohrer, Chaminade Julienne H.S.: "In every aspect, my time at CJ was great, but if I could go back and make a change, it would be becoming more involved in activities like Eagle Ambassadors. I would push myself a little harder to take more AP and honors classes, and I would be more organized from the start."
Taylor Brandon, Dayton Regional STEM School: "I would have developed better relationships with all of my teachers. I don't think students realize the importance of communicating career goals and aspirations to teachers. I have seen situations where students have had great relationships with their teachers. As an outcome, the teacher has been a mentor and helped to guide them in their career choice."
Morgan Dailey, Greene County Career Center: "Looking back on my high school experience, there are only a few things I would have done differently. One of the big things I would change is that I would have gotten more involved. I wasn't one of the popular kids who did every extra curricular activity or went to every sporting event. I chose to stay to myself. But now that I look back, I realize my high school experience was somewhat boring. Everyone is always saying how high school is supposed to be the best part of your life and you should enjoy it. But it wasn't, because I didn't get involved. If I had been more involved, I would have more friends and would have more stories to pass down to my children in the future. If I were to speak to a freshman and give them advice for high school, I would tell them to get involved in anything and everything, just to have the full high school experience and to have fun."
Molly Regan, Miamisburg High School: "I would have applied myself more and taken high school more seriously than I did. I should have challenged myself more academically to better prepare myself for college. I should have taken harder classes, but I took the easy way out."
Nicole McDonald, Wayne H.S.: "I'd apply myself more in some classes. I applied myself in most classes, but I thought I didn't need my writing and reading classes because I'm going into a science field. If I'd applied myself, I could have walked away with a lot more information, and know how to do research papers. I signed up for Advanced Placement English my senior year, hoping I'd test out of it in college, but I wish I'd applied myself earlier."
Cody King, Wayne H.S.: "I would have taken studies a lot more seriously and taken more difficult classes. I slacked off freshman and sophomore years, then picked up my junior year because I was playing varsity football. I didn't realize how important my grades were. During my freshman and sophomore years, I was still trying to adjust to high school, but my junior year was a reality check for me. My parents had a big impact, and my coaches lit a fire under me to excel in the classroom as well as on the field."
Kyle Champine, Northmont H.S.: "Looking back at my high school experience, I would have played more sports and been more involved in my high school."
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