1. Master the art of written communication. Contributing editors, copy editors, and editors-in-chief review and edit stories several times in order to ensure that they are easy-to-read and informative. The editors will provide you with insight on how you can better communicate your ideas—a skill that transfers well from subject to subject.
2. Explore writing types and styles. Newspapers consist of numerous sections focusing on different areas of news, such as local news, national news, features, entertainment, sports, and opinion/editorials. Story requirements vary from section to section, allowing staff writers to find which section best suits their interests.
3. Broadcast your abilities and opinions to a large audience. School newspapers are generally available throughout the building for student, faculty, and staff browsing, which maximizes the possibility that someone will read your story and respond with positive feedback.
4. Perfect interviewing techniques before applying for college and job opportunities. Most colleges and jobs necessitate a preliminary interview, and writing for your school's newspaper offers plenty of opportunities to interview students, teachers, and coaches for inside information on school events and happenings.
5. Discover underground artists, musicians, etc. Oftentimes, students pursue interests unfound in the classroom; feature columns in newspapers provide the perfect occasion to find and shine the spotlight on these individuals.
6. Receive free access to sporting and extracurricular events. Those who write for school newspapers receive press passes, which allow them free access to attend after-school functions. A word of caution to staff writers, though: Newspaper advisors may revoke press passes if used irresponsibly.
7. Learn the trade of business negotiations. In order to publish a newspaper, businesses must purchase advertisement space to afford the newspaper staff with the funds necessary to print the publication. Most students fear the advertisement-seeking process, expecting that they will error in some way, but becoming familiar with the process early may eliminate this fear.
8. Develop time-management skills. Deadlines are an important, if not the most important, aspect of writing for a school newspaper. Stories must be timely, and failure to meet deadlines results in a delayed publication. Writing for the newspaper quickly instills in staff writers the ability to retain a control of time.
9. Experience real-world responsibilities within a classroom setting. Newspaper advisors often relate journalism class expectations to real-world occupational expectations, as both require a strong commitment to developing the final product—in case of the former, a printed publication, and in case of the latter, a report, portfolio or other data and information collection. Conditioning yourself to meet such expectations in high school allows for an easy transition into the real world following graduation.
10. Find your place in the school. If you find that writing for the school's newspaper is simply not for you, your experience covering the stories of other clubs and activities will provide you with insight on which to explore next.

1. Explore career options BEFORE going to college. Confirm what you want to do (or learn what you don't want to do!) so you can spend time and money wisely continuing your education in a field that is a good fit for you.
2. Experience many different options within a career field, and learn about the paths to reaching different levels.
3. Network with professionals in your field of interest. These contacts will be helpful to provide guidance as you continue on the career path to your goals!
4. Receive mentorship from a professional in a career field of interest who enjoys guiding interns and sharing information about the field.
5. Develop and refine essential workplace readiness skills: communication, collaboration, time management, professional expectations, etc.  These skills are transferrable to any workplace setting and are required for future success!
6. Apply your academic skills in a professional setting:  reading, writing, problem-solving, creativity.
7. Gain hands-on experience doing something that interests you.
8. Impress colleges. Colleges like to see internships on applications. An internship shows you are seriously interested in a particular field of study.
9. Jump–start your future employment search. Internships can lead to future employment!
10. Have FUN and experience a meaningful senior year!

1. To develop a sense of accomplishment from building your own competition robot.
2. To better appreciate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and how it may positively impact the world around you.
3. To gain life skills such as planning, collaboration, brainstorming, and problem-solving.
4. To develop leadership and technical skills.
5. Because it's fun!

Ask if your school or community has a robotics program or club!