• Skip to main navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Quick Property Search

Trending Squamish Searches

  • Squamish BC Homes for Sale
  • Brackendale BC Homes for Sale
  • Garibaldi Highlands BC Homes for Sale
  • Britannia Beach BC Homes for Sale
  • Valleycliffe BC Homes for Sale

Talk To Scott Now

Have a question? Give me a call at 604-815-1985and I will contact you right away.

Squamish Homes and Condos for SaleSquamish Homes and Condos for Sale

  • SEARCH
    • Advanced Search
    • Set Up Email Alerts
    • Interactive Map Search
    • Listing ID Search
    • Address Search
    • My Account
  • FEATURED
    • Our Featured Properties
    • Today’s Newest Single Family Houses for sale
    • Today’s Newest Condos & Townhouses for sale
    • Today’s Newest Land for sale
  • NEIGHBOURHOODS
    • Britannia Beach
    • Garibaldi Highlands
    • Brackendale
    • Valleycliffe
    • Rural Squamish
    • Northyards
    • Tantalus
    • Garibaldi Estates
    • Brennan Centre
    • Dentville
    • Downtown Squamish
    • Hospital Hill
    • Crumpit Woods & Plateau
    • University Heights
    • Explore More
  • NEW DEVELOPMENTS
    • Redbridge
    • SEAandSKY at Waterfront Landing
    • Jumar
    • The Plaza at Junction Park
    • Cleveland Gardens
    • Pemberton and 3rd Avenue
    • Britannia Beach
  • BUY
    • Why Buy with Us?
    • Mortgage Calculator
  • SELL
    • Home Valuation
    • Selling 101
    • Marketing Your Home
  • ARTICLES
    • Culture
      • Arts
      • Music
      • Food & Drink
        • Recipes
        • Restaurants
    • Real Estate
    • Profiles
      • Business
      • People
    • At Home
      • Garden
    • Throwback
    • Habitat
    • Field Trips
    • Around the Internet
  • CONTACT
    • About Squamish.com Real Estate Group
    • Client Reviews
    • Contact Us
SearchClose

How to Survive High School: Tips From Squamish Students

According to the movies, surviving high school would be so much easier if we were to:

  1. Develop super powers, or
  2. Throw huge, unsupervised parties every weekend

Considering both of these are unlikely, here are some wise tips from students at Coast Mountain Academy on how to survive high school in the Sea to Sky corridor.

coast mountain academy high school
Coast Mountain Academy students. Photo: submitted.

Friends

While studying hard is important, so too is having fun. And it’s hard to do that without friends. But finding true friends isn’t always easy.

What makes it easier though, explains Madeline Blaser, is being yourself: “there is no way that you can be happy if you aren’t.” If you see someone new, be brave and just talk to them, “odds are they are a nice person who is open to being friends” she adds.

And although you may not form long-lasting friendships with everyone you meet, you’re more likely to find like-minded people by following your own interests. “If you can surround yourself with like-minded people, chances are at least a few of them will become lasting friends,” says Sam Bonnell.

Making friends can be scary “but it’s a skill that will be very valuable in University, so start practicing now,” says Ocea Grant.

Teachers

The students agree that developing good relationships with your teachers is about honesty, mutual respect, and trust.

Being engaged and interested in your class is a great way to start, explains Blaser. So is meeting deadlines and not being afraid to ask for help.

“If you can turn in your work on-time, be attentive in class, and always put your best foot forward while interacting with them, you will have a strong base on which to form a positive relationship,” says Bonnell. With this solid base in place, you’ll likely feel more comfortable talking to them about more personal matters. “ Your teacher is there to help you through school…and are often more than willing to form a strong relationship with their students,” he adds.

Studies

As important as it is to have fun in high school, it’s also important to try your best.

“To stay focused in class, the best thing to do is surround yourself with people who will be a good influence,” says Blaser. “You may not find that everyone in your class shares the same values or work ethic that you do, so finding like-minded study buddies can make a huge difference,” she adds.

“One of the simplest ways to be ‘studious’ is to simply do the work,” says Bonnell. “Focus for those seven hours, then once school is over you have the time after to do what you wish.”

Paying attention in class also helps reduce the amount of study time at home, explains Grant. He also stresses the importance of planning classes carefully to avoid taking on too much.

Organization

Many of the students agree that preparation for school starts the night before.

“For me, the best way to ensure I didn’t forget anything…is by putting out everything I need for the morning the night before,” says Brooklyn Higgs.

Blaser agrees, and adds that she preps lunch the night before too. Keeping to-do lists also helps her keep track of everything, she explains: “I keep one on my phone so that I can update it throughout the day.”

Phones, apps and planners are all useful tools for setting reminders and deadlines, says Grant.

And while note taking is a good habit to get into, explains Bonnell, they need to be organized in a way that allows you to go back and re-review content from before. A separate binder for each class, perhaps, clearly marked so you know which to bring.

Planning

“It’s never too early to start looking at universities,” says Bonnell. “Starting early will actually give you a leg-up on the competition, as you will already know the standards they hold their applicants to.”

Grant agrees: “look into university programs you are interested in, check the pre-requisites and get them done!”

Though getting good grades is key, don’t overlook the importance of community and extracurricular activities. “Work hard at being well rounded and keep all your options open,” explains Blaser.

Rather than head to university immediately, some students might prefer a gap year. “If you are confident in what you want to do, then of course, go to school immediately, but…just remember that there is no rush at all,” explains Higgs.

Activities

To keep both your mind and body healthy, “getting involved outside of classes and in sports is so important,” says Blaser.

Grant agreed and says: “concentrating is so much easier if you are exercising regularly.” Set a goal in an activity you love to help stay motivated.

School sports and committees also enable you to connect with people outside of the stressful academic environment. “This can open up many different possibilities and friendships with people in, and outside of your grade,” says Higgs.

It’s about finding a balance, explains Bonnell: “to do well academically at school you can’t just focus on academics, you need to have balance, be it sports or music. The real sweet spot is when you can combine both of those together.”

 

CMA student Elfin Lakes hike. Photo: Coast Mountain Academy

Balance

Keeping an even keel is essential to surviving high school.

“Finding a good balance in your day-to-day life can be very difficult, especially when your workload is very heavy,” says Blaser. “Individual people have different things that work for them, so discover what works for you.”

While daily schedules will help keep you on track, be sure to take breaks she said. “Working hard is important, but take it easy on yourself sometimes.”

Higgs agrees: “give yourself a break every now and then after school to revive what truly matters to you.”

“Play hard, study more than you play, and sleep more than you study,” says Grant. “Grades are important to get into school…but they aren’t worth sacrificing your physical and mental health for.”

It’s All About You

While high school is full of questions, doubts, and awkward self-consciousness, these precious few years will potentially shape who you are and who we become.

“You are at school for yourself and no one else,” says Bonnell. “It is YOUR education that is in YOUR hands and you have the ability to take it wherever you want.”

coast mountain academy high school
Coast Mountain Academy Students. Photo: submitted

 

Posted in: LIFESTYLE Tagged: CMA, coast mountain academy, high school, tips

Search Smarter!

Did you know the hottest homes for sale in Squamish often sell within days of being listed? Don't miss out! Set up your own custom property alert so you can be notified of the newest homes as they hit the market! Simply click the button below and choose the qualities that you want most in a home and save your search to start getting alerts today!

Set up Property Alerts

As local Squamish Real Estate Agents we also have access to homes before they hit the market and can show you more homes and information that are only accessible in the MLS. If you would like to set up a time to go over your real estate needs, please free to contact us at your convenience. There is no obligation and or pressure... we hope to hear from you!

Post navigation

« Thomasina Pidgeon and the Grand Wall Bouldering Co-op
The Squamish CAN Seasonal Planting Guide »



Start Your Home Search

Talk To Scott Now

Have a question? Give me a call at 604-815-1985and I will contact you right away.

Quick Search Tools

  • Advanced Search
  • Address Search
  • Home Valuation
  • Interactive Map Search
  • Listing ID #

What is Your Home Worth

Click below to find out what your home is worth, 100% free

Find Out Now!

Client Reviews

I highly recommend working with Alex both as a colleague and as a client

I have had the pleasure of working with Alex over the last couple of years in several different transactions, including one as a colisting partner, which gave me the privilege of seeing both how he works behind the scenes and on the front lines. Alex is an extremely hard worker, he gives every task his

Sophie Squamish June 17, 2018

I would never make a future real estate decision without Scott’s involvement.

Scott gives invaluable real estate advice. Both of his recommendations were spot on. We purchased in the ideal location and at the ideal time. I completely trust his instincts — I would never make a future real estate decision without his involvement.

Laura L Squamish homes August 10, 2018

I trust Scott’s experience!

I trust Scott's experience with Squamish real estate to help me make good investment decisions!

Timothy L. Squamish homes August 10, 2018

I completely endorse Scott

I met Scott by chance and he surpassed my expectations of what a realtor is all about and could do for me. Scott took the time to listen and truly understand what I was looking for. He has extensive knowledge of the Squamish area.

Christine M Squamish homes August 10, 2018

Kind, Caring and Knowledgeable

What a complete pleasure it is to work with Scott ! After being here for 6 months it is better than we could have imagined. I couldn’t recommend Scott more, both personally and professionally and some one we will be delighted to work with in the near future.

Jessica W. Squamish homes August 10, 2018

Alex knows Squamish!

As an Ontario resident moving to Squamish, British Columbia, I was very happy with the service provided by Alex Vark. He, personally, took the time to drive us around the area to familiarize us with the town and various neighbourhoods. His knowledge and patience were most helpful. I recommend Alex as your Squamish Realtor!!

Corinne B Squamish homes January 10, 2019

Positive: Professionalism, Responsiveness

We worked with Alex to purchase a home in Squamish last fall. Alex was amazing. We felt like we were his only clients, and we felt like the purchase of the right home was as important to him as it was for us. Whenever we had a question, Alex was always quick to respond! He

Matt Sprunt Squamish Duplex August 1, 2019

“could not have been a more positive experience for us”

Working with Alex could not have been a more positive experience for us. Alex knew exactly what we were looking for and didn’t waste any time finding us the perfect home. Alex is professional, transparent, and clearly very experienced in the world of real estate. We felt like we were working with a friend rather

Lauren McGill & Max Barron Squamish November 17, 2019

We were very proud to have Alex represent us

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️We were incredibly pleased with Alex's efforts in helping us find a home suitable to our needs. Our experience with Alex was far more desirable than with our previous realtor, who was foreign to Squamish. He provided us with many options, and was very detailed in his analyses of homes that we showed interest in.

Jess and Matt Squamish Townhome April 24, 2020

Dan Patching – Mortgage Broker

I just finished working alongside Alex as he helped my clients sell their condo in Squamish and buy a beautiful townhouse. Not only did he get them an amazing price for both, he also was extremely professional and quick to respond when questions were asked. It was a pleasure working alongside him, and anyone considering

Dan Squamish September 17, 2020

Contact Us Now

MacDonald Realty - Squamish

Scott McQuade

Personal Real Estate Corporation

Scott’s Phone: 604-815-1985
Scott’s Email: scott@squamish.com
Alex’s Phone: 604-848-4997
Alex’s Email: alex@squamish.com

38090 Cleveland Ave
Squamish, BC V8B0A8

Quick Search Tools

  • Advanced Search
  • Address Search
  • Home Valuation
  • Interactive Map Search
  • Listing ID #

Areas We Cover

Squamish, Brackendale, Garibaldi Highlands, Britannia Beach, Valleycliffe

Connect With Us

Scott McQuade Personal Real Estate Corporation © 2021 · Scott McQuade · 604-815-1985 · Privacy Policy · Sitemap · IDX Sitemap · IDX XML Sitemap · Squamish BC Homes for Sale · Agent Center · Disclaimer - All Rights Reserved by Squamish.com Real Estate Group


 

Log in · Real Estate Websites by YourSiteNeedsMe