Advice for Graduating High Schoolers

Hi there, soon-to-be graduates of Keystone School – this blog post is for you!

Firstly: congratulations! The end of the school year is just around the corner, and you’ve made it! Now you’re standing at the start of a new chapter.

We recently had one of our alumni, Veronika (class of 2024) visit the school to speak to you all about her first year as a student in the Life Science program at the University of Toronto, and her advice on how to prepare for the big step of entering postsecondary school was incredibly insightful. We’ve summarized some of her advice (which you can also find in this video) in the post below, as well as shared some extra tips we wish someone had given us when we were in your shoes.

Tip #1: Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable

University is a world full of THE NEW: new people, new places, new expectations. You’ll be out of your comfort zone more often than not…but you know what, that’s okay. It means you’re growing, changing, becoming the person you will be for the rest of your life.

So our advice here is to try everything without fear. Sit in the front row. Speak up in class discussions. Try the club you’ve always been curious about. It’s through those scary, uncertain moments that you’ll find your confidence and community. Pushing yourself that extra bit is how you learn and grow!

We specifically asked Veronika what she recommended Keystone students do to prepare for postsecondary life, and this is what she had to say:

Tip #2: Time Management is Key

Remember how your teachers here at Keystone were always harping on you to study well ahead of time for a test, get that assignment mostly researched weeks before the due date, and organize your study schedule and calendar down to the minute? There was a reason for that!

One of the biggest shifts from high school to postsecondary is how much control you have over your own schedule…but with this freedom also comes increased responsibility. With fewer structured hours, it’s easy to fall behind and get overwhelmed. The solution? Use an old-school paper planner or digital calendar to keep track of classes and deadlines. Make a habit of reviewing your upcoming week’s schedule every Sunday evening. Treat your time like a budget and spend it wisely. This is a fundamental skill to learn not only for your future schooling, but for life itself!

Tip #3: Study Smarter, Not Just Harder

In high school, you might’ve been able to get by with last-minute cramming. In postsecondary? Not so much. Effective study habits make a big difference.

Some strategies that work are:

Quiz yourself on material to make sure you have really absorbed it.
Review material over time, not all at once. This is why time management is so important!
Try the Pomodoro Technique: study for 25 minutes, take a break for 5, then repeat. Remember that rests are just as important as studying!
Break tasks into smaller parts to avoid burnout and feeling overwhelmed.
Teach the material to someone else. If you can explain it, you really know it.

Find what works for you early on, and stick with it.

Tip #5: Mental Health Matters

This deserves repeating over and over: your well-being comes first. University life can be exciting, but also overwhelming. If you’re stressed, anxious, or struggling, reach out to someone who will listen. Most campuses offer counseling and mental health services, but you may also feel most comfortable reaching out to a friend or family member.

You can also try the following tips to relieve stress and anxiety:

Sleep! Seriously, aim to get at least 7 hours a night. (Remember how we said time management was important?!)
Move your body regularly, even if it is just taking a leisurely walk around campus to chill out.

Stay connected to your support system, whoever they are.

Repeat this to yourself often: Asking for help is a strength, not a weakness.

Finally, keep in mind that you don’t have to have it all figured out right now. What matters most is that you’re showing up, trying your very best, and learning as you go. Mistakes will inevitably happen, but so will amazing things you never even saw coming.

You’ve got this! Enjoy the journey, and take pride in how far you’ve already come. Once again, congrats grad, from all of us at Keystone!