Although I feel comfortable now at Glenbrook North, when I was a new freshman, I think I would have rather been almost anywhere else.

After going to a smaller school all my life, I was anxious about attending a big place where I knew few people. Scanning the halls on the first days of school, I could not figure out where I was supposed to go. I asked older students for directions, only to be guided to another unfamiliar location. I feared that, for the rest of high school, I would wander around, lost and alone in the maze of the school.

Soon, however, I started to participate in activities. During freshman year, I attended Jewish Learning Club once a week and played lacrosse. These activities introduced me to kids with interests similar to mine, and we forged a camaraderie. Sophomore year, I pursued my love of writing by joining Torch and becoming involved with the ARC. Junior year I became active in language clubs. The feeling of being lost melted away without my even noticing.

GBN is a large place where it is not always easy to find your niche. It is important to find smaller groups of people with common interests. The school makes this task easier by offering dozens of clubs, sports and other activities.

Some activities did not work out, but I was not discouraged. Not every pastime or group is a match, and not everyone comes out on top in competitive activities. I kept trying and eventually found what I liked.

The interpersonal connection in these activities is critical. Do not let the ease and ubiquity of social media lull you away from spending time with peers. In an article I wrote for Torch, I found that some students became so reliant on social media for personal validation that they were crushed if a post lacked enough likes. They checked posts compulsively for fear of missing out, even while sitting next to friends. I am a fan of social media, but, please, talk instead of type when you can.

Every student should participate in activities about which they are passionate. Although initial fear of failure or embarrassment can be an impediment, facing your anxiety makes participating in the activity that much more satisfying. You may be the smallest kid on the team or the least knowledgeable about a certain subject, but everyone starts somewhere.

I remember during one of those first days of freshman year, an administrator said something that has stuck with me. “If you are going home immediately after school every day, you are not experiencing all that GBN has to offer.”

Their implied advice is sound. Attending a school like GBN is an unusual opportunity, so indulge in activities that spark your interest and make you happy.