What to Know Before High School: Part 3 – The Stuff That Actually Stands Out

That College App Isn’t Going to Fill Itself Out...

But wouldn’t it be nice if it did?

Your teen’s only just entered high school and already the questions are creeping in:

• Should they volunteer more?

• Is debate better than Model UN?

• Does building a catapult out of spaghetti count as "innovation"?

  
  

If you've asked ChatGPT, Alexa, Google how to make your teen ‘stand out,’ welcome. You're not alone.

We’re back with Part 3 of our series on what to know before high school, based on real interviews with real graduating seniors who looked back and said, “I wish someone had told me this.”

Spoiler: it’s not about perfect grades, 27 extracurriculars, or becoming fluent in ancient Greek (unless they really want to).

In Part 1, we talked about time management, going deep in activities, and launching a passion project just for the joy of it.

In Part 2, we explored overcommitment, social pressure, and the leadership skill no one talks about: saying no.

Today in Part 3, we’re diving into what it really means to stand out, without burning out.

Golden Nugget #7: Standing Out Isn’t About Doing More - It’s About Doing It Differently

Colleges (and life) aren’t impressed by jam-packed resumes. They’re moved by meaning.

One senior said it best:

“Everyone joined clubs. But the people who got noticed were the ones who started something, solved a problem, or helped someone.”

It turns out, leadership isn’t about a title, it’s about initiative. And teens who ask, “How can I improve this?” are already ahead of the game.

Encourage your teen to pick one thing they already care about and ask, “What’s missing here?” That question can turn a basic club membership into a genuine impact story.

Golden Nugget #8: Mentorship Is a Secret Weapon- Both Ways

We often tell teens to find a mentor, but our seniors told us something even better:

“Be a mentor. It teaches you more than you think.”

High schoolers who stepped up to guide others, whether it was a middle schooler in a club, a freshman on the soccer team, or even a younger sibling, found themselves growing in confidence and clarity.

And yes, they also stressed how having their own mentor helped them see possibilities they didn’t know existed.

Help your teen think about both sides. Who’s one person they admire that they could learn from this year? And who’s one person they could support or guide, even in a small way?

Mentorship isn’t a LinkedIn thing. It’s a life thing.

Golden Nugget #9: Being Busy Isn’t the Same as Being Fulfilled

This one hit hard.

“I looked so productive on paper,” one senior said,“but I felt totally disconnected from myself.”

Many teens fall into the trap of performing achievement, checking boxes, joining things, racing through honors classes, without asking: Why am I doing this?

The students who seemed the most grounded and satisfied? They protected their energy. They made space to breathe. And they stayed connected to what felt personally meaningful.

Try this question with your teen during a quiet moment:“What’s something you do that fills you up, not just your schedule?”

Sometimes, what looks great on an app matters less than what brings them peace of mind.

What to Know Before High School? It’s Still Unfolding...

We’re three rounds in, and if there’s one thing that’s clear, it’s this: what teens need before high school can’t be boiled down to a checklist.

They need:

• Permission to go deep, not wide.

• Relationships that stretch and support them.

• Room to be human, not just high-achieving.

Coming up next, we’ll talk about:

• Why emotional regulation is a high school superpower

• How to recognize burnout early (and what to do about it)

• And how to help your teen reconnect with who they are, not just what they do

Until then, keep being curious, present, and maybe just a little bit rebellious—especially when someone tells you “every kid needs to…”

They don’t.

They just need the right kind of leadership. The kind that starts at home.