Lesson 1 It Starts from Inside of Me

Do you find it difficult to face the new school year? First, keep an eye out for specific activities that you

If so, you are not alone. Why don’t you listen to are really interested in. Make sure you are ready to

take advantage of any chances available to you: sign

what these two students have to say about their new
up for programs, talk with specialists, and keep
school life and what four living books would like to
getting involved. Then stick your toe in the water
tell them?
and find out what your true passions are.

Philip Some of you might find it hard to discover what you

I want to do well as a high school student, and I’m really like. Then stick to your school work and pay

more than determined to do so. Yet I have little idea close attention to school subjects you are better at.

what I want to do in the future. To be honest, I am

Take your time, and keep doing what you feel like
not sure I can do anything well. Where should I
doing for the next thirty days. My experience tells
begin?
me that thirty days is just about the right amount of

time to plant the seed of a new life passion.

Director of Photography

When I started high school, I wanted to do well but So why not begin something you think you will like,

and give it a shot for the next thirty days?

nothing went right. I had troubles with my friends

and my grades suffered. I had no idea what I really

As the famous saying goes, “Shoot for the moon.
wanted to do. I wanted to change, and started to Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.”

reflect on myself.

Realizing that I loved taking photos, I tried doing

that for a month. I joined a photography club. I

went from looking at pictures all day to actually

taking them. Before long I found out what I liked

and dreamed of becoming.

Why don’t you try to find something that you love

to do, and then get started right away?

Jane 1. Try to accept and value who you are: Everyone is

I have a lot of questions about myself. “How good unique and special in their own way.

do I look to others?”, “How many students in my 2. Talk to others: Everyone gets a better perspective

class really like me?”, and “How worthy am I?” These on life from communication.

questions come to me so often that I find it difficult 3. Learn from your mistakes: Nobody learns without

to get along with friends and to concentrate on my making mistakes.

school work. Sooner or later, you will find yourself feeling more

self-confident and motivated than ever before―

Counseling Psychologist without worrying what others think of you.

Since you have just started high school, it may not Poet

be easy for you to fit in with new people and keep I hope you like this poem which I wrote when I

your own self-identity in a whole new environment. started high school.

But why don’t you just be yourself? No one is going The Real Me

to like you if you don’t like yourself. The more you I used to keep my paint brush with me

listen to your inner self, the real you, the more Wherever I needed to go,

confident you will feel about yourself. In case I needed to cover up myself

So the real me didn’t show.

When you don’t feel right about what you’re wearing I’d like to remove all my paint coats

or how you look, just do the best you can and look To let the true me show

at yourself in the inner mirror rather than the social To have the inner self out,

mirror. When you are not sure about trying I hope it won’t be too slow.

something new and unfamiliar, focus on your own Now all my paint coats are coming off

feelings instead of worrying about what others may I feel bare and cold,

think of you. But I love all that I see

The real me, pure as gold.

Pop Singer
I hope you will give serious consideration to the
Why don’t you listen to my song?
following suggestions and try to act on them during
Believe in your own strength, and stretch out your
the first semester.
wings and fly.