I Became Influential, As A High School Student, And You Can, Too!
By Colin Fiedorowicz, Stride Student Advisor
What makes influential people stand out is their ability to take the initiative. After all, your talent and intelligence can't help you if you don't actually use them. I've been a student at Texas Virtual Academy at Hallsville since I was a freshman, and I'm now a senior, who'll graduate this June. My drive has helped me become a highly influential member of my school community. In this blog post, I'll write about some of the ways taking the initiative has helped me gain influence, and what you can learn from my experience.
Enrollment Is Open!
The number one (and most cliché) way you can take the initiative, as a high school student, is by participating in class! Of course, this can be very difficult for some students, because they're scared of public speaking. After all, fear of public speaking is so common that it even has a name: glossophobia. Thus, I understand why many students shudder at the thought of raising their hand to answer a teacher's question, or even worse, being asked to read aloud. I have never done either, yet every year, I earn certificates of recognition and praise for my insight and participation in class.
My big secret? Taking note of how I'm not only recognized for participating, but also for being insightful.
I regularly partake in class discussions, where I share fun facts related to the lesson, help answer my classmates' questions, and even crack jokes, when appropriate. Because other classmates are involved in the discussion, I don't become the center of attention—which is usually why most people fear public speaking. While I definitely encourage you to face your fears, the key takeaway here is that you can still participate, without engaging in public speaking.
Of course, participation can go far beyond the classroom. I dream of becoming a software developer, so when I first enrolled in Stride Career Prep, as a high school student, I chose the Information Technology Pathway; I chose this pathway because it was the only tech-oriented pathway my school offered. At first, I was rather content with my decision, but I eventually discovered that some schools offer AP Computer Science courses, and even an entire programming endorsement. I immediately contacted my school administrators to recommend that they start offering these options. It's worth mentioning that not many students step forth to share their ideas like that, so they were obviously very impressed by my initiative. In fact, they were so impressed that it was one of the reasons why, later that year, they invited me to do interviews with several news outlets. While I can't guarantee that you'll be on the news, your insight will certainly go a long way.
By always participating in my classes, and never hesitating to share my feedback, I've taken the initiative and become a highly influential member of my school community. Along the way, I've learned many valuable lessons, all of which I’ve shared in this blog post. By applying what you've now learned, you too can become an influencer!
Be sure to check out the article, A Student’s Overview Of Online School’s Benefits, to learn more!
And, to you can also read a Stride Student Advisor’s perspective on Debunking Typical Online School Stereotypes, too!
Make sure to visit 5 Tips For New Online High School Students, to get a Stride Student Advisor’s important advice.
To learn more about Stride Career Prep's Student Advisory Council, be sure to visit https://www.k12.com/stride-career-prep/about/student-advisory-council.html
Is your child ready for the future?
Make sure your student is ready for life after high school.
Meet a Leader in online education.
See why over two million students have chosen Stride K12-powered schools.