Prioritize: how often is that preached to us? If you ask a parent, school should be your top priority, while your best friend may say that getting to the mall by four is, by far, more important. Priorities are listed in order based on a personal preference. How badly you need a scholarship may determine whether you study for that Vietnam test on Friday night. For the first two and a half years of high school, school was my one and only priority. I eventually realized, though, that there is way too much to experience before I was out of high school; I didn’t want to miss out. While your studies are certainly worthy of being your top priority, they should not be your only priority. Sometimes, staying up late and munching on chips while laughing with your friends is exactly what you need to keep the stress at bay. Eventually, the ever-dreaded part-time job will begin climbing the list as your money supplies begin dwindling. It shouldn’t cast a shadow over school, but it will, no doubt, take up a large portion of what would be your social life. Relationships in high school are unavoidable, be it yours or your friends or the girl’s whose locker is next to yours. How much do you put into your new hubby? Sisters before misters, I always say. Your friends will always be around. They may not be pressed up against your locker with overly excessive PDA, but they certainly provide some chuckles. Boys, as harsh as it is, are replaceable. They haven’t earned top priority, and they won’t for many years to come. Deciding on what takes top-spot on your list is your decision only; whether you stay home and spend time with the parental figures or go to a party this weekend is your choice. Each aspect of your academic and social lives needs love and attention at times so it can prosper. How much you give it is up to you. Don’t lose sight of the future though; overdosing on late nights can hurt you in the end. Have a goal: if you want to get into a certain college, make sure you know what you need to do. Keep your grades up, because that’s what will carry you the farthest. Your job is going to start piling on the responsibility, so be prepared and try not to buckle under it. Only you can decide how much time you need for each portion of your life, so make your own list of priorities; this is one of the few lists you cannot copy.