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How do you define personal success?

Is it receiving good grades, achieving dreams, attaining a job or getting into the post secondary school of choice? Or is it deeper than that, like gaining full respect and believing in yourself?

In high school, there are so many opportunities for success, no matter how it is defined. How you achieve it is a totally different story, and it depends on the person. The important part is to keep an open mind and be realistic.

What writer needs math? What mathematician needs English? Part of keeping an open mind includes keeping ‘doors open’. The future is not written in stone. Plans can and do change. In order to keep all doors open, at least try to succeed in all subjects. You never know what will be required in future years.

Julie Underhill, a guidance councillor and leader of the Student Voice Project at Innisdale Secondary School, suggests students who strive for success should ask questions when in doubt. Chances are, they're far from alone. Underhill also suggests that students get involved by joining a club or team. Not only does this create a connection to the school, but it also influences students to put more effort into their schoolwork.

Emily Adams, a Grade 10 student at Innisdale, is currently involved in three clubs and two sports teams. She says this gives her the opportunity to meet new friends and become connected within the school. Not only that, it gives her a good reason to come to school each day, aside from grades.

Adams can recall waking up in the morning, wishing that she could fall back to sleep and forget about school for a day. But then she remembers the tennis practice planned in the evening, or the Social Justice Club meeting taking place the next day.

“It gives you something to look forward to,” Adams said.

Aside from being involved in the school, she also strives for, and achieves, high grades. While it’s not always easy, she it creates concise study notes. She pays close attention in class, and keeps an agenda to remember homework that’s been assigned.

“Also, having good balance between work and play (is important), so I don’t get stressed.” she says.

At Innisdale, the recently created Student Voice is designed to help those students who are less involved or successful reach their goals.

The project’s direction is lead by a group of students, who will work together to brainstorm what Innisdale is doing well, and where improvements can be made to benefit peers.

Students will listen to others, and let them know that they’re being heard. They also guide the students, to help them find areas of improvement.

Success is what you make of it. Or as Drew Coulson says, “Success is nor a factor of fate, it's nearly a progressive state.”