Well Faisal , this is a tough topic to handle but I shall surely try to give an unbiased personal opinion !! :)
School and college life is tough and well it is the basic foundation of your adult life.. what you learn you earn literally by means of that .. well I am not referring to just books. Friends, environment, teachers, parents have a lot to do how you cross over the stumbling and sometimes exciting phase of school and college life.
The most important people or lets say pillars in a school students life are parents, friends and teachers. Parents have a very important role to play in bringing up their child to grow up to be a decent citizen of India or any country.Its the duty of the parents to present a comfortable idea when it comes to schools. I mean, make schooling fun... encourage your kids to make friends, ask questions, be honest and well allow a little measure of naughtiness.
The most important thing for students nowadays is to respect their individuality and yet maintain a level of strictness so that they realise that there is someone to fear and respect. This will reflect his/her’s attitude in school. Diplomacy is the key word with teenagers as teenagers are very unpredictable and well they are allowed a few minor mistakes...:):) as long as they realise that it was a mistake... Overstrictness will corrupt the mind of a young kid...
Always keep in mind Forbidden fruits are always sweet
Friends Friends are an integral part of a students life. Friends who stick together in school stick together for your whole life. Its very important to have a good set of friends.. By good I mean .... supportive... kids are too young to know what is good and bad in real terms of word... suffice it to say that good means not telling on someone.. being there for another friend when required... sharing .. studying together... avoiding bullying ( if possible)... accepting losses... and learning to get over low grades to perform better ... all these are possible if you have a good set of friends.. Friends also help you through peer pressure and the pains of growing up. Dont let your kid be boggled by competition... stop comparing your kid with his friends.. it spoils the whole makeup of a student... if you think that comparison will work.. compare in a positive manner...
Teachers make a great difference in building a student’s career.. parents be prepared for hard crushes on some good looking teacher... its common... in school and college life ... Teachers make a long lasting impressions on students whether in school or college.. whether its the way she wears her hair or the way she talks.. or the way she is clothed.. I remember a teacher who used to wear no other sarees except for pure silk sarees.. All our friends used to find her so elegant and well dresses that we also used to try and dress neatly .. always putting the example of the teacher concerned... Its always nice if you make a connection with the teacher.. believe me you dont have to be studious to do that ... most of the naughtiest students are sometimes teacher’s favorites... the key here is attitude ... develop an attitude which is liked by all. It will make everything easier.
School is very restricted in some ways in India... you dont have to make decisions and are ina protected cocoon... so you dont get to experiment with life.. like in college.. College is like a battlefield when it comes to your personal growth..
You not only have to tame your raging hormones but try and be cool. God save the nerds!!! Well this is what most teenagers are scared of .. being called a nerd or a geek... Peer pressure is at the peak. This is the time when you define your likes and dislikes...
You will meet a whole range of personalities in college and it depends on you to make the right choice of friends again... if you are stuck with your old friends then its cool... if its a new place .. be careful in making close friends... Observation is important... the best bet is to try and be your natural self...
If you like to study dont be ashamed... be cool .. dont make it obvious.. make it seem very easy... thats the key .. you should learn when to let go and when to be serious... and if you dont care being called a nerd ... well kudos to you... but remember balance is the key thing... learn how to enjoy... as this period will never come back...
Ragging was and is something which every fresher has to go through ... well take it sportingly... you gotta be tough .. if you weaken.. you will always be the target... try and do what is asked if its fun and not offending... you will make a whole set of friends with the seniors which will prove helpful when it comes to notes and helpful pointers in the course of your student life.
Drugs, Smoking and Drinking have become big time experiments in college.. well according to me ( this is very personal) you got to learn how to say no... and well if you are trapped into taking it..dont protest.. rather take a very small sip or a small puff... just to satisfy your friends... and stay away if you dont like it.. believe me your friends will accept it after some days... with drugs ... you have to learn how to avoid being in a situation where you will be forced to take something...I lost two good friends to Cocaine and well that still haunts me when I see young kids doing hard drugs...
Adult education is very important. Please make sure you get educated to avoid making glaring mistakes.
If you like drinking and smoking... yes its a novelty when you start.. do know when to quit.. you have to set a limit... too much of everything is never too good for you....
Cultivate hobbies... by this time you will each have something which you like to do... work on that ... you never know when that becomes your strongest focal point in your life..
And the next big thing that is looming on your heads in LOVE :). Call it infatuation, love, crush, experiment.. its all a matter of life and death and a lot of ego...during this period.. each emotion is magnified and you might feel out of control... almost every one has had a broken heart or two.. its almost funny when you get nostalgic later on... my only advice is that go with the flow and dont try and do anything drastic.. this is a passing phase.. yeah its easy to write .. but believe me I have had to struggle through it all too and the only thing which kept me sane and pulled me out of the confusing phase is my sense of humour and ability to take things cool.. though I have given vent to my temper sometime..:):)
Well the last but not the least is FOCUS... as you are coming to the end of your wild wild days ... remember... you have to produce results which will place you at the starting point of your career.. whatever you do never lose focus on your goals ... go to a career counsellor if it helps... ask your friends ...
Its sad to see so many misdirected youth who make mistakes and well instead of working a solution around it.. they prefer to wallow in their misery till its too late...
Remember.... time and tide waits for none and its the survival of the fittest ... learn how to make life go on and you will succeed no matter what... Time heals everything...
I hope you all have a great life and enjoy the bittersweet fruits of youth and of being young.