With a Chromebook in hand, taking notes in class is now easier than ever. But as easy as it is to open Google Drive, it is just as simple to drift off and explore the worlds presented by the App Store.

As students sift through games and YouTube videos, they are missing test material, key curriculum points and downright interesting information. Rather than letting yourself fall into the trap of distractions, it is crucial to practice positive behaviors by claiming your education and opting out of distractions.

If you’re thinking, “So what? I’m not missing anything,” then what you are really missing is the point. This distraction trap posed by the presence of Chromebooks in class is merely a microcosm of what you are in store for in the future.

When you venture off to college, taking courses in a lecture hall of a few hundred students, your professors will likely not care if you are paying attention. Your professors will not go out of their way to summarize the learning experience. It is up to you to be responsible and propel yourself through academia.

Beyond the realm of education, you may find yourself sitting at a desk in an office with a computer. As businesses track Internet activity of employees, people get fired for spending more time shopping online and exploring the web than they do on the job.

In “School to startup,” on Pages 6 and 7, you meet three alumni who have turned their passions into something substantial through considerable focus. An internationally expanding company was created through the persistence of  alumnus Michael Israel. Alumnus Lindsey Isaacs juggled online business courses while starting up her own company. Alumnus Mary Beth Schwall locks herself in the kitchen in order to get the job done. These alumni all commented on the need to focus in order to succeed, and while it may have taken awhile for them to get where they are now, picking up these positive habits earlier will only benefit you in the long run.

So if high school is meant as preparation for the future, utilizing Chromebooks for their worth seems as promising a situation as any to teach students a means of balance and control.

Take advantage of this chance because it is time to claim your education by saying farewell to the distractions that Chromebooks offer and hello to their benefits so you can gain some focus for what may be a bright future ahead.