Happy New Year everyone! I took some serious time off during the holiday break and feel much more refreshed going into this new year. Although I haven’t made New Year’s resolutions for a while now (I haven’t been very good at following through), I did reflect on the past year and have given my future goals some thought.
As for blogging, I have made revisions to some of my original goals. For one, I realize that my original plan of posting a new blog entry every Friday is not realistic; I will be glad if I can regularly post every two weeks, so that is a more realistic goal. Another change I am making is to share “book smarts” and “street smarts” tips regularly on Instagram by embedding them within my daily reflections. I find that I reach a wider audience through Instagram, and that the exchange is more casual. For those who don’t use Instagram, I promise to convert those casually reported tips into more formal and structured blog entries.
To start off this year, I am sharing 19 ideas (in honor of 2019!) for “New Year’s resolutions” for college-bound students. Even if college is not on your radar at the moment, you may still find these ideas to be relevant to you. Likewise, if you are already in college, it does not hurt to skim through the list and see what you are doing already and what you might want to consider as a goal. If there is interest (let me know in the comments below or by filling out a contact form), I’m happy to write a similar post for soon-to-be college graduates and even for graduate school-bound students. Please know that everything I share through this blog is based on my own life experiences, so some of my ideas may be more or less relevant to you— I will let you decide what is worth taking away. My goal is not to prescribe “to-do” tasks but rather to suggest ideas to think about when the time is right for you. If you have ideas of your own, please share, as I can learn from you as well! :)
I hope these ideas help you get started as you navigate the growing up process this year, and please feel free to share widely!
Idea #1: Start building a professional wardrobe
The new year is a good time to start investing in professional clothes or inheriting some from older siblings if you share the same size. More expensive isn’t necessarily better, especially as you are starting out (unless money isn’t an issue for you or your family). What matters most is the fit! A preowned blazer purchased at a consignment store that you get tailored to fit you perfectly is better than a brand new one that doesn’t compliment your body shape. Fit is everything. When I started my first year teaching at a public high school, I was 23 years old, sharing an apartment with my boyfriend (who was doing his medical training and did not have much of a salary). I had many bills to pay, a car to maintain, insurance to cover, and not much in savings. My previous biomedical research position did not allow me to save much, as I was paying for tuition, licensure, and all kinds of standardized tests.
Despite my financial situation, I knew that how I presented myself would make a big difference in my career, or at least in my self-confidence in teaching teenagers (mostly juniors in high school), most of whom I knew would be taller than me. Yes, really! At 5 feet and 3/4 of an inch and 95 lbs, I don’t really have a commanding presence. And as a soft-spoken Asian woman on top of that, I knew I was far from the standard authority figure. That was okay with me, though, because I never wanted to be seen as an authority figure, at least not with my own students. To earn their trust and respect, I had to show them trust and respect. Part of that meant taking the job seriously by dressing professionally. I wanted to dress like I meant business; I wanted my dress to convey confidence, although deep inside I was super nervous! I thought to myself, if I look prepared, perhaps I will start to feel more prepared.
During my first year on the job, more than half of my entire wardrobe consisted of items I purchased in thrift stores; I looked for quality fabric and vintage pieces that I could update by getting them tailored by a professional tailor. Most of the pieces I picked up cost less than $10 and were of better quality than some of the new pieces I bought (in general, fabric was higher quality in the past…). The alterations I got done usually cost double or triple the price of the original item but the end result was a pencil skirt or blazer that fit me perfectly. I had great luck finding pencil skirts and sweaters that were 100% wool or cashmere, but had no luck with pants (I have short legs and even getting long pants hemmed doesn’t quite do it because of the proportions and fit). I would not recommend purchasing shoes at thrift stores (consignment stores are a different thing), and definitely no underwear!! Accessories like scarves are great but beware of items that you wear as an inner layer. When shopping at thrift stores, be sure to wash items really well before you wear them, as well as before getting anything tailored because fabric tends to shrink in the washer/dryer.
Idea #2: Get yourself ready with independent financial accounts
Open up a bank account. Get a debit card. Apply for a credit card if you have some kind of active income, so that you can start building a credit history. I wrote about the basics of credit and debit cards here. If you are under the age of 18, you can have a credit card as an authorized user under a primary holder’s account (i.e. parent). If you are at least 18, you can have your own independent credit card, as long as you show that you have an income source. Additionally, get a single checkbook (usually contains 25 checks). You will likely need it if you plan to work while in school. I opened up my own bank account during my senior year of high school. I had saved a bit of money from the numerous part-time jobs I had tutoring, doing gigs as part of a string quartet, and working as a volunteer coordinator for a non-profit organization. My parents took me to Bank of America and helped me with the process. Read more about the specifics of this experience here.
Idea #3: Learn the art of writing thank you notes
By thank you notes I mean handwritten thank you notes—not just texts or emails. Call me old-fashioned, but I very much believe in the value of a physical thank you card. So work on your handwriting, just enough that it is legible, no matter how brilliant you are. And start writing thank you notes today—to your friends when you receive a gift; to your family members when they do something nice for you; to your teachers who care about you and work their butt off for you; to your school counselors who help you navigate the college process, among many other things; to your boss, supervisor, advisor, or anyone else whom you are learning from. Practice gratitude. It’s essential for fulfillment and happiness. And it’s just a nice thing to thank people who do nice things. I think in general we can treat everyone in our shared world with more kindness.
Idea #4: Set up a LinkedIn profile (or at least google what it is)
Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter should not be the only social media or networks you are part of. Even if you are not ready to set up a LinkedIn profile, start keeping track of your learning experiences, jobs, internships, and projects. Write a few sentences about what your role was, what responsibilities you had, and what skills you learned or developed. Also note when you pursued this experience or activity. This information will come in handy when you create a LinkedIn profile or when you write your first resume or curriculum vitae (CV). What are these, you ask? Now is a good time to google all of these terms! You can find a sample CV here—I just updated mine earlier this week. If you are ready to set up your LinkedIn profile, be sure you have a professional photo to use. You can use a school photo, or, if you are ready to make the ultimate investment, you can get a professional headshot taken. I highly recommend Hector Pachas, who took the photo I’m using on my LinkedIn profile.
Idea #5: Go grocery shopping with family
Yes, really! Go grocery shopping with family to get a sense of how much everyday items cost. Gain an awareness of what you need for everyday life when you live on your own, and how often you need to purchase these items. Learn what is a reasonable price for toiletries, for various produce, and for basics like milk and bread. Even if you plan on eating dining hall food during college, you might find yourself living off campus at some point and will need to know the basics. This is a good time to learn not to take certain things for granted. And while we are on this topic, also inform yourself of the cost of a haircut, of getting pants hemmed, of resoling shoes, and of dry cleaning an interview outfit. That way, you can start budging for these.
Idea #6: Learn to do your own laundry
The growing up process involves becoming independent. Some individuals grow up faster than others, often out of need. Growing up in the Cheng household, I had chores (and they were unpaid! My parents did not believe in allowances, and I’m actually quite grateful for this in retrospect). Besides washing dishes by hand and helping out with cleaning, I learned to do my own laundry at an early age. Don’t feel ashamed if you have no idea how to do laundry; it is never too late to learn! Even if you plan to live at home while in school, it’s a grown-up thing to do. Don’t be the 25-year old adult who has no idea. Sure, you can outsource this job and pay someone else to do your laundry, but let’s be real, college is expensive, and life after college does not get any cheaper. If you don’t want to ask a parent how to do laundry, stay tuned for a future post on the basics. There’s also no shame in googling this!
Idea #7: Understand the costs and maintenance involved in keeping a car
I didn’t have a car until I graduated from college (I was late to the whole driving thing) and had to learn everything on my own about keeping a car. I did my own research on how much oil changes should cost, when to start getting full synthetic oil changes, how to find out when your brakes are no longer doing what they’re supposed to do, and what it means when your turn signal flashes at double the frequency (FYI, with a Honda Civic, it means one of your headlights or rear lights are about to die out so get the bulb changed ASAP). And if you already have a car (lucky you!), be good about documenting all the work done to your car and keep receipts! Be informed. I used to keep a large envelope in the glove compartment for storing receipts. I’ll share a personal story later on about how saving receipts helped me enormously!
Idea #8: Shop less
But if you insist on shopping, then buy fewer, better things. Better as in higher quality. Not just fast fashion. This is also a good year to develop some good habits. For example, make a list on your phone of items you truly want or actually need. Think about this for a full week and keep adding things as you think of them. When you think you are done listing, then you may start shopping. Only buy items that are on your list, and not because something catches your eye while you are on a shopping trip or because something is super trendy at the moment (I have made my fair share of impulse purchases and regret them later on). Resist the urge to be tempted by the moment. If you make your list carefully, you should not need to add to it much. Revisit this list every 6 months or every year. Revise as necessary, but do not revise every month, or worse, every week! That defeats the purpose. Here are some items still on my list from almost 2 years ago: a tweed coat, a classic pair of sunglasses, a long grey wool coat, a pair of low-heeled leather boots that are waterproof but don’t look like it, an elegant waterproof backpack that lasts me through grad school, a high quality sleek umbrella, and a Mason Pearson boar bristle hairbrush (a major splurge!). I managed to cross off quite a few items since the time when I got my first job. It is a nice treat when you have a splurge item on your list and you finally have enough saved for the item to cross it off your list. Or when you treat yourself (or someone special in your life) to an item after you (or that other person) have achieved something substantial.
Idea #9: Write down your current skills and strengths
Really think about this and keep this list somewhere accessible so you can keep returning to this list throughout the year. Can any of these skills and strengths turn into part-time jobs, a fulfilling career, or internships? After writing down your current skills and strengths, write down what specific skills or types of knowledge you wish you acquire. Research where you can acquire them. Most likely many of these skills you can learn and hone in on in school (School is not just about accumulating content knowledge... school is also about developing transferable skills). Perhaps some of these skills you can learn from volunteering somewhere. Or from joining a club or activity. Or from shadowing. Or from taking on a job. Think about when you can acquire these skills. After school? During school? On weekends? Summer break? Spend some time thinking about your present so that you can prepare for your future.
Idea #10: Figure out your natural rhythm
By “natural rhythm” I mean, get in tune with your body and learn when you are most alert and focused, how many hours of sleep you need to feel fully rested, and assess whether you are an early bird or a night owl. All of this is good to know now so you take this information into account when you select your roommate and register for your classes. Everyone is different. Focus on yourself and your own needs. Know when you perform and learn best.
Idea #11: Start researching scholarships and other sources of financial aid
If your parents are taking care of this for you, at least get involved in the process so you learn about it. FAFSA becomes relevant if grad school is on your radar after college. At that time, you’ll likely have to do this on your own. Get the basics now! Even if you are a freshman/freshwoman in high school, it does not hurt to ask upperclassmen and -women about scholarship opportunities in your local community. Find out what the criteria are, what materials you need to submit, and when the deadlines are. The earlier your preparations, the less stressful they will be.
Idea #12: Learn some organizational skills
You don’t need to aspire to be a professional organizer (they do exist and they actually make good money!) but you should at least have the skills or learn them to keep your life in order. If organization isn’t your strength (no judgment here), find tools to help you out. For example there are great digital note-taking tools out there, planners, calendars, and all kinds of productivity apps and web extensions. Don’t rely too heavily on your parents to organize your school life and extracurriculars. Otherwise you’ll find that it gets harder to be an independent adult. The transition is already tough enough as it is; don’t make it more challenging if you can do something about it now.
Idea #13: Read!
Read. Read more. Read more widely. Read for fun. Read for information. Read the news (emphasis on plural). Read critically. Read different sources. The bottom line is to read. It is so essential and never gets old. Unfortunately, as a teenager, I did not read much beyond what was required of me for school, despite my parents reminding me to do so. My excuse? “I’m a slow reader!” Even if you are a slow reader, you should still read something. You will do plenty of reading in college, for your work, and beyond. Reading will help you on the SAT and other standardized tests (sorry, they don’t go away) and it will help you become a better writer. Reading also helps you become more informed. I love starting my day off with reading theSkimm, which gets sent to my email every morning. theSkimm provides an overview of the main news stories (focused on the U.S.) and is written in a humorous manner. Try it out and let me know what you think! :)
Idea #14: Know your health
Obtain a copy of your health record (including vaccination history and all prescriptions you have) or at least know where you can access this information. You will avoid a massive headache from having to deal with this stuff when you neither have the time nor the energy for it. Also know the name of your primary care physician, and have his/her contact information handy (I keep this information on my phone). At some point, you will have to fill out forms and it helps to have this information ready, so that you don’t have to search for this every single time.
Idea #15: Create a portfolio
Consider creating a portfolio of your academic and non-academic work. Are you a good writer? If so, keep digital copies (pdf) of essays, poems, editorials, etc. Make your academic work do work for you outside of the classroom. Are you an artist? Take high quality photos of your original work and display them on Instagram or on a website. You can create nice websites for free or pay for more professional sites. Book Smart Street Smart, for instance, is my portfolio. It took some time to get started, but I have a feeling this blog will be with me for many years to come. Are you a photographer on the side? If so, make your work visible. Social media is great for this. Did you create something original for a class project—something you are really proud of? Save it! You may use it as a sample of your academic work when you apply for a job or an internship. It doesn’t hurt to come prepared. Did you have news articles written about you? If so, save them to your computer (don’t just bookmark the page). You never know when and how they may serve a purpose!
Idea #16: Maintain relationships with friends and teachers
I am writing this not only because I am a teacher. Relationships with friends, peers, and colleagues become more challenging to maintain the older you get (at least from my own experience). You get busy and maintaining relationships takes time and effort. But relationships are also so important for enriching your life and for overall happiness. Do not take your current friendships for granted—cultivate them. Do you have a favorite teacher, or an adult that you admire and respect? Keep in touch with that person and let him/her know about your life. You never know when your paths will cross and how that person can be an essential reference for you. You don’t have to be super social, extroverted, or a savvy networker to maintain relationships (I am none of these!). Maintain relationships in a way that is true to you, that feels authentic.
Idea #17: Teach yourself or someone else something
You don’t have to be a licensed educator to teach someone else or yourself something new. If you are a junior or senior in high school, I highly recommend volunteering your time to tutor someone else. You may be surprised how much you learn in the process of helping someone else learn! In college, you are bound to form study groups (they are really beneficial!), so it does not hurt to start developing interpersonal skills from working with different types of learners. Besides tutoring, consider setting a goal to teach yourself something new. It can be anything! When I was 12 or 13, I was obsessed with a website called Neopets (does anyone know what this is?). I had my own guild with hundreds of members, so I felt it necessary to learn HTML and the basics of CSS to create my own website. As a result, I bought books about HTML and CSS and taught myself the basics of this “programming language” during a summer off. I know this sounds incredibly dated (I mean, nowadays, there are free websites that create fancy websites for you; you don’t need to know anything about coding), but I just wanted to share a personal story :)
Idea #18: Practice prioritizing tasks
Prioritizing is not something I am very good at, but I am deliberately working on this. According to Merriam-Webster, to prioritize means 1) to list or rate (projects, goals, etc.) in order of priority, 2) to organize (things) so that the most important thing is done or dealt with first, and/or 3) to make (something) the most important thing in a group. This is harder to do than it seems, but prioritizing is SUCH an important adult skill to learn, and the more practice you have with it, the better. The reality is, you will have more and more responsibilities as you get older, and it will be up to you to decide which responsibilities need to be attended to before others. You will need to make choices, big and small, on a daily basis, and this decision-making process often involves prioritizing. Prioritizing also means being strategic about which assignment you complete first. I personally have a tendency to start the easier tasks/assignments first, because this makes me feel good (it’s more rewarding, right?) but saving the harder tasks for later also means more stress later on. Prioritizing is also related to time-management and organization, both of which are essential skills needed for developing independence. One way to start prioritizing is to make lists of things you need to do on a given day and to practice ranking them in order of urgency/importance. There are apps for this if you prefer to do this on your phone, but there is also nothing wrong with keeping paper lists. As life experience has taught me, sometimes prioritizing means letting some things go by saying “no” (and that is another skill to learn); sometimes it means setting time aside for yourself so you can recharge; sometimes it means willing to risk a poor grade on an assignment to help a friend or family member in need. There is no single best way to learn to prioritize—sometimes, the best way to learn is to just do it and learn from the experience.
Idea #19: Research the cost of attending college
My younger sister did this and boy was it eye-opening for her! I highly recommend doing the same. Include the cost of tuition, room and board if you are living on campus, health fees, approximate cost of textbooks, etc. Once you have a sum, divide that total number by 270 (which represents the max number of days you are in school in a year, not counting summers). The number you end up with is how much your education costs per day whether you are working or not, studying or partying, sleeping or reading. You make a lot of choices when you go to college—try to make good ones that you benefit from. Or at least do this so you have a sense of how much your education is worth. If your parents are paying for you, be grateful. They could be investing the same amount in their own retirement but they chose you. Don’t take their choice for granted.
And that’s it!
Thanks so much for following along by reading.
Warm regards,
Catherine
PS. These photographs were taken last week during a family trip to Cedar Key, Florida. They are all unfiltered :)