Student Life

6 Bucket List Items to do Before You Graduate High School

6 Bucket List Items to do Before You Graduate High School
Whether you've just started high school or are in your final year, there are a lot of things you can do before you graduate. 

Here are some suggestions that you might want to add to your very own high school bucket list (or use as ideas to start one if you don’t have one yet!).

Run for student council
If you’re interested in using your voice and platform as a student to positively impact your community, run for student council. 

It can be an exciting way to dip your feet into civic engagement and get your first taste of the democratic process. You can also meet new like-minded people, build relationships, and serve your peers!

Write a letter to your future self
Writing a letter to your future self can be more powerful than you think.  It’s a chance for you to self-reflect and to record who you are currently. Your dreams. Your ambitions. 

Your priorities. It will act as a time capsule, and when you open it in the future, it will provide you with an opportunity to see how much you might have grown, changed, or journeyed over time.  If you need help writing one, this article by Bucket List Journey has tips on how to do so. You can also use FutureMe to send letters to your future self!

Start your own club
Have a passion for something like programming, dance, astronomy, improv or issues like the environment or LGBTQ rights, but your school doesn’t have a club for it? Then start your own! It can be a great way to share your passion, help your school community, and enjoy doing what you love. 

Of course, you’ll also gain experience in the various skills of leadership such as planning and delivery, persuasion and influence, and people management.

If you‘re looking to start your own club, check out How to Start a Club in High School by PrepScholar for general tips.

Land a high school internship
There are many reasons why you should consider taking an internship, not just the monetary benefits. It’s a perfect opportunity to put the skills that you’ve learned throughout your education to use. They’re also a chance to gain valuable job-related skills and insights into a company’s operations. Who knows, you might want to work for that company in the future!

There are more and more companies willing to hire high school students as interns these days. If you’re interested in finding one, you can start your search with Chegg’s listings, which has a list for remote internships too. Good luck!

Go on a camping trip
Camping trips allow you to discover outdoor activities you might not otherwise try. Spending time outdoors can be a great way to clear your mind and think about what you would like to do after high school. 

Plus, camping is an awesome way to spend time with your friends and classmates! When planning a camping trip, it’s important to remember that not all travellers enjoy the same type of activities. A simple Google search can help you find and plan activities that are popular for a camping trip that you and your friends will enjoy.

Join a hackathon
Interested in learning how to code or love it already? Join a hackathon. It’s a 24-hour event where you and your team use technology to fix a problem with an innovative solution. 

For example, you can solve the problem of not being able to find parking spots with a smartphone app that tells you where available parking spots are located.

It’s totally acceptable if you don’t have any experience. Many hackathons are open to people of any level and often offer many workshops to get you started with coding. 

It’s another way to meet new people, learn new skills, and enjoy the food and swags offered by sponsoring companies. If you are not convinced yet, here are 4 reasons to join a hackathon. 

If you are convinced, check out this list of high school hackathons by Hack Club to get started.