| As you start high school, plan activities | | | | local business in your area of |
| and sports that will make you look your best | | | | interest.Technical ArtsVolunteer for |
| to the college you eventually want to attend. | | | | experience at auto and body shops, metal |
| If you have many talents and interests, be | | | | shops, manufacturers, and engineering or |
| sure to keep your grades up, and achieve at | | | | architectural firms. Schools offer job |
| high levels in your activities.Starting in | | | | training through Regional Occupational |
| the 9th grade and working through the 12th | | | | Programs, ROP, work experience, often for |
| grade, some of the special classes and | | | | credit, or apprentice training |
| activities that show you have special talents | | | | programs.BusinessParticipate in Future |
| and abilities include:WritingJoin the staff | | | | Business Leaders of America, FBLA, |
| of the yearbook or the school newspaper | | | | Distributive Education Clubs of America, |
| staff. Enter writing and essay contests. | | | | DECA, Junior Achievement, and Regional |
| Compose speeches for contests and debate | | | | Occupational Programs. Try working in the |
| tournaments.Art, photography and DramaEnroll | | | | Work Experience program or as a summer intern |
| in special design, drawing, painting, | | | | to see if you will really like a particular |
| ceramic, and pottery classes. Act in school | | | | career.LeadershipBecome an Eagle Scout, or |
| plays, musicals, and in community theaters. | | | | join clubs such as Junior Statesman or Key |
| Work on the photo staff of the yearbook or | | | | Club. Apply to be a legislative page. Work |
| the school newspaper. Publish in city or | | | | for your senator, congressman, assemblyman, |
| local newspapers. Win awards at local art | | | | city councilman, or for local civic and |
| shows and county fairs.MusicParticipate in | | | | charitable organizations.Keep track of your |
| school orchestras, bands, choirs, madrigal | | | | high school courses and activities A scrap |
| groups, musicals, junior symphonies, summer | | | | book for newspaper clippings and awards will |
| music camps, music award competitions, and | | | | give you a wonderful diary for your future |
| church choirs.ScienceJoin the radio, science, | | | | life, and will help you fill out your resume |
| math and engineering clubs. Participate in | | | | your senior year.Helen Heron is a dedicated |
| regional and national math tournaments and | | | | educator, author and publisher. She |
| science competitions and fairs. You can win | | | | graduated from Pomona College, received her |
| prizes and awards. Subscribe to science | | | | teaching credentials from UC Berkeley and is |
| magazines or read them at the | | | | a Reading Specialist. She taught high school |
| library.SportsBe an active team player in the | | | | in Livermore, CA for thirty-five years, and |
| events you like best. Follow a regular | | | | retired as "Teacher of the Millennium"! She |
| training program to develop above average | | | | has given presentations all over the world, |
| skills.AgricultureJoin Future Farmers of | | | | including talks at the World Council on |
| America, FFA, or 4-H Clubs. Enter state and | | | | Gifted and Talented Children at The Hague and |
| county fairs to gain awards, prizes, and | | | | Hong Kong. Her most recent presentation was |
| recognition.Home EconomicsWork hard and | | | | at the Mensa World Gathering in Orlando in |
| compete for awards and prizes at county, | | | | August 2006. |
| state and national fairs. Offer to help a | | | | |