The School That Never Sleeps

THE SCHOOL THAT NEVER SLEEPS

128 TIPS TO GET YOU THROUGH FRESHMAN YEAR AND BEYOND

1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACADEMICS

Tip No. 1: Start Strong. Hit The Ground Running

Tip No. 2: Do It

Tip No. 3: Do Your Homework

Tip No. 4: Get it Done.

Tip No. 5: Don’t be Late.

Tip No. 6: Do Your Own Work

Tip No. 7: Use Free Periods Wisely.

Tip No. 8: The Three Most Important Words: Time Management, Time Management, Time Management.

Tip No. 9: Getting Things Done When You Can Get Them Done.

Tip No. 10: Time is the Most Valuable Thing

Tip No. 11: Ask For Help

Tip No. 12: Be Open to

Tip No. 13: Have No Regrets

Tip No. 14: Prioritize Yourself. Habits are the Key.

Tip No. 15: Study. Changing Habits to Get Good Grades

Tip No. 16: Schoolwork and Effort

Tip No. 17: Don’t Let Your GPA Define You.

Tip No. 18: Freshman Year Counts Develop a Good Work Ethic.

Tip No. 19: Raise Your Hand

Tip No. 20: Pay Attention

Tip No. 21: Coolest is Unhealthy

Tip No. 22: Be Ambitious in Your Course Selection

Tip No. 23: Accepting Challenges.

Tip No. 24: Don’t Panic

Tip No. 25: Focus Your Mindset

Tip No. 26: Love Learning & your GPA will Follow.

Tip No. 27: Class Moves on With or Without You

Tip No. 28: Lifesaver or Waste

RELATIONSHIPS

Tip No. 29: Strangers to Friends

Tip No. 30: Be Open to Everyone

Tip No. 31: Cliques

Tip No 32: Blank Slate, Open Mind

Tip No. 33: Branch Out

Tip No. 34: Branching Out

Tip No. 35: Branching Out of Your Comfort Zone

Tip No. 36: Best Ways to Make Connections

Tip No. 37: Lock In

Tip No. 38: Don’t be Worried if you Struggle to make Friends.

Tip No. 39: Friends Take Time. Freshman Year Can be Hard.

Tip No. 40: Just Start a Conversation

Tip No. 41: Speak Up

Tip No. 42: Find your Friends.

Tip No. 43: Staying Connected

Tip No. 44: Making a Friend

Tip No. 45: Stop Overthinking It.

Tip No. 46: Don’t Be Afraid to Change

Tip No. 47: Have Faith. Don’t Fret about Friends

Tip No. 48: Show You Care

Tip No. 49: Counselors & Connections

Tip No. 50: Nobody Cares Be Yourself.

Tip No. 51: Smile More

Tip No. 52: Making Friends

Tip No. 53: Find Yourself First.

Tip No. 54: Worried About Meeting New People.

Tip No. 55: Being Lonely is a lot Different from wanting to be Alone.

Tip No. 56: Making New Relationships, While Keeping your Past ones Close

INVOLVEMENT

Tip No. 57: Get Out There!

Tip No. 58: Stretch Yourself

Tip No. 59: Don’t Isolate, Activate!!

Tip No. 60: Involvement is Key

Tip No. 61: Just Do It

Tip No. 62: Get Involved

Tip No. 63: Participate in Everything

Tip No.64: Leave to Serve

Tip No. 65: Don’t Wait

Tip No. 66: Never too Late

Tip No. 67: Mr. 2:40

Tip No. 68: Embrace the Community

Tip No. 69: La Salle Sports

Tip No. 70: Going to Games

Tip No. 71: When One Door Closes, Another Opens

Tip No. 72: There Is Always Another Activity

Tip No. 73: Don’t Knock Until You Try It

Tip No. 74: Don’t Judge Something Before Trying It

Tip No. 75: Make the Most of It

Tip No. 76: Do What You Want

4

WELl-BEING AND MENTAL HEALTH

Tip No. 77: Staying Calm

Tip No. 78: Embrace the Now.

Tip No. 79: Flow

Tip No. 80: Worrying about Tomorrow only takes away from Today’s Peace.

Tip No. 81: Challenges

Tip No. 82: You are not Alone. Don’t Bottle it Up.

Tip No. 83: Prioritize Your Well-Being – It Helps Everything Else

Tip No. 84: Be Friends with the Faculty

Tip No. 85: Who’s Best for YOU

Tip No. 86: Accept Who you are Because you are Amazing.

Tip No. 87: Just Be You

Tip No. 88: Thankful Prayer

Tip No. 89: Live with and through the Community and God

Tip No. 90: Be Unbreakable

Tip No. 91: Hit the Gym

Tip No. 92: Sleep. The Unexpected Key to Success

Tip No. 93: Go to Bed

Tip No. 94: Eat

Tip No. 95: Helping Others to make Yourself Feel Better

Tip No. 96: Don’t Be That Guy

Tip No. 97: Be Yourself

Tip No. 101: Your Phone isn’t that Important. 5

TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIAL MEDIA

Tip No. 98: Put Down Your Phone, Be Present and Start a Conversation

Tip No. 99: The Phones not Important

Tip No. 100: Stay off Your Phone as Much as Possible

Tip No. 102: Limit Social Media

Tip No. 103: The Biggest Obstacle

Tip No. 104: Roller Coaster

Tip No. 105: Pitfalls of Social Media

Tip No. 106: Word Gets around Quick.

Tip No. 107: A Dumb Decision Discovered

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

Don’t be Obnoxious - Act Like You are in High

Tip No. 110: Don’t Do Stupid… STUFF.

Tip No. 114: You’re Going to Fail at Some Point

Finding your Moment Outside of

Tip No. 122: Step Outside the Box.

Tip No. 123: Living in a World that is Better Than You

BONUS TIP:

Read this book cover to cover!

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to La Salle College High School and welcome to the La Salle family. It may sound strange, but you are now part of a family. Your fellow freshmen are your brothers, along with all the students who came before you and all the students who will follow.

There are certain privileges that come with being part of a family. You now have brothers who will look after you. You now have brothers who will have your best interests in mind. There are also responsibilities that come with being part of a family. You need to look after your brothers, and you need to make your family proud.

Hopefully, this book will help you navigate your way through the next four years. Think of this book as one of the privileges you receive when you become part of a family. Yet this book would not have been possible if it wasn’t for former seniors who took it as their responsibility to share their wisdom, and experience about life at La Salle College High School. To your fellow brothers we are forever grateful. Think of it as their legacy.

ORIGIN OF THE BOOK

This book was inspired by Harlan Cohen’s best-selling book, The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run into in College. A book that prepares graduating seniors for all the different issues they might face when they go off to college. Using Cohen’s book as a template, a similar book was created for incoming La Salle College High School freshmen. The first edition of The School That Never Sleeps was published in 2010. Over the years the original publication became dated. As a result, a new updated version of the book took shape. You are now holding the second edition of The School That Never Sleeps in your hands.

HOW TO USE THE BOOK

This book is broken into six sections with a total of 128 tips. You can read this book from cover to cover, or you can pick and choose what topic/tips you want to read. The book does not address every situation you may encounter, rather it is a broad sampling of various student’s experiences.

DISCLAIMER

The tips in this book come from students who were once in your shoes. The advice they give is not school policy. The school handbook clearly states the school’s policy. Some advice you will agree with, while other advice you will disagree with. One tip may contradict the advice of another tip. It is your job to find out what works for you and to choose your own path. Good luck. Enjoy the read

ACADEMICS

1

Start Strong. Hit The Ground

Running

2

Do It

THE TIP: Try not to fall behind in a class with grades or work because you’ll have a hard time trying to dig yourself out of it.

THE STORY: Coming into some of my years at LaSalle, I would come out of summer break not ready to do any work. So, in the first weeks I would not pay attention, do work at the last minute or I wouldn’t study for a quiz in the beginning because I thought I had a whole semester to get my grade up. But that was not really the case because I would have to try digging myself out of that hole. It was hard to get the grade I wanted because I was constantly trying to dig out when in reality if I had that grade in the beginning it would have been easier to maintain the grade. If you start your journey at La Salle by working hard, you will develop a good work ethic and start with a high overall grade, which will help you in the remaining three years.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Start the year off strong so you don’t have to dig yourself out of that hole.

THE TIP: Do your work!

THE STORY: It’s important to consistently do your work and turn it in on time. While quality of work is important, consistency is valued even more by teachers and future employers. This has been true in my experience, as I’ve missed out on opportunities due to low grades or missed deadlines. For example, I wanted to enroll in AP English for my junior year, but my teacher declined to recommend me because I wasn’t reliable with turning in work on time. It’s important to remember that “too late” is earlier than we think.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Just Do Your Work, it takes maybe an hour or two out of your day, but it can do wonders for your future.

3

Do Your Homework

THE TIP: The easiest grades are homework, but you must turn it all in on time.

THE STORY: When I was a freshman, I didn’t care about my grades as much as I should’ve. I was more worried about soccer and making new friends. In English I had around a 94 so thought I didn’t need to turn in every homework. We had work due every class and after not doing it for three classes in a row my grade dropped dramatically. I went from a 94 to a low 80. For the rest of the semester, I was grinding to get my grade up and just wished I did my homework. It has happened in other classes too and I know everyone says do your homework, but it’s the easiest grades, and will really keep your grades up if you do it all well and on time.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Do your work. A lot of teachers take off heavily on lateness so make sure you have it all in on time and it will be way less stressful.

4 Get it Done.

5 Don’t be Late.

THE TIP: Get your homework done.

THE STORY: I was really scared coming into La Salle because in middle school my grades were never good, and I wanted to make sure I could succeed. As the school year went on, I got advice from seniors I was friends with that helped me throughout the rest of my La Salle career. They told me always do my homework because that will keep your grade high enough and if you are ever struggling meet with that teacher because they want you to succeed as much as you want to.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Get your homework done and meet with teachers if you’re struggling.

THE TIP: The step from middle school to La Salle is very drastic and you need to be prepared to do your work efficiently and on time.

THE STORY: As an incoming freshman I did not know what to expect of La Salle work, but I assumed everyone was exaggerating the workload. I assumed that it wouldn’t be as bad as people said so I chose not to worry about it. The first couple of weeks of school I tried to breeze by and didn’t do my work; and if I did do it, I did it very poorly. As time went on, I saw a steady decline in my grades and ended up getting a C in religion, one of the easiest classes. The next semester I really locked in and started doing all my work on time and with care and I instantly saw better grades than I did the first semester.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Do your work, it isn’t the end of the world. Yes, it might take up your free time, but the end goal is always worth it.

6

Do Your Own Work

7 Use Free Periods Wisely.

8 The Three Most Important Words: Time Management, Time Management, Time Management.

THE TIP: At La Salle you are going to have a lot more work than at grade school, it may be tempting to ask a buddy for the homework due the next day, but it only hurts you in the long run.

THE STORY: I was a freshman and really struggling with the amount of work I was doing because I was not used to it. I asked my friends for the homework once. That one time turned into every night. By the time of the test, I had no clue what to do because I never reinforced the material in my head because I did not do my homework.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Do the work.

THE TIP: Get your work done now, rather than waiting for later. Time management skills will get you further than you would expect here.

THE STORY: Back during my freshman and sophomore years, I was like most who were at the library: playing games on my laptop, watching Netflix and talking to friends. After several late assignments and emails, I realized something needed to change. I started doing what I should have been doing all along: working on my assignments in my free periods. It ended up giving me much more time to relax at home. I dedicated most of my free periods to doing homework. This improved my sleep, mood, and overall wellbeing.

THE BOTTOM LINE: I know that it may be tempting to watch videos during your free periods but remember this: you will have WAY more free time at home if you do not have any assignments to finish.

THE TIP: If you can plan your day to get all the work done for the week, and still have a moment to catch your breath then that day will not have been wasted.

THE STORY: I have done a fair number of activities at La Salle over my four years. None of that would have been possible had I not planned out each day and week thoroughly. Freshman year is when I first had to really think about planning out what I was going to do and when I was going to do it. After about two weeks at La Salle, I got into a rhythm of which class assigned more time-consuming homework and which class did not. I would rank time management as one of the most important skills to learn, it bridges all fields and jobs. You also don’t have to be the smartest person in the class or in the office, if you consistently get your work done well and on time.

THE BOTTOM LINE: If you use your time wisely you can get work done faster, better, and spend less time doing it.

9 Getting Things Done When You Can Get Them Done.

10 Time is the Most Valuable Thing

THE TIP: Plan your week and workload. It’s easier to have a calendar and allot time to get work done than just doing it when you feel like it.

THE STORY: My freshman year I had an essay due on a Sunday night. I told myself during the week that I’d get it done on Saturday. Turns out I had a hockey game on Saturday, and I went out with some friends afterwards. Sunday rolled around and football was on. I watched football all day with my friends, and I did not get my essay done in time. I received a poor grade and was unhappy with myself. I realized what I had done wrong and knew that something had to change.

THE BOTTOM LINE: You can’t wait until the last minute to get things done and expect to do them well. The best way to stay on top of things is to carve out time in your schedule to get things done early. Live like the saying, “Early and often.”

THE TIP: Use free periods wisely.

THE STORY: Freshman year I goofed around and did not use my time wisely and my grades reflected this mistake. Throughout the rest of my time at La Salle I became more and more efficient with my time not only in school with my frees but also out of school. If you have last period free or even the last two periods free you do not always have to go home right away. Stay in the library and get stuff done so if you do not understand something the teachers are a short walk away instead of an email at midnight that will not be answered.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Use your free periods no matter when they are and be efficient with all 24 hours in your day.

11 Ask For Help

THE TIP: Meet with your teachers. They are here to help you.

THE STORY: Coming from middle school, meeting with teachers was corny or “not cool.” As I got to La Salle, that was something I had to do. If you are struggling in a class or with a topic, ASK FOR HELP. You will feel so much better with yourself and with the topic.

THE BOTTOM LINE: “Closed mouths don’t get fed.”

12 Be Open to Help

THE TIP: Meet with your teachers when struggling.

THE STORY: I came into La Salle thinking I would never meet with a teacher, because in grade school I never had to. I could not have been more wrong. I was struggling in Mr. Nolan’s Algebra One class, and I was too afraid to go and talk to him. Once I finally did though, he was quick to help me, and my grade started getting better. My grade was still nothing special, but it was an improvement from before I met with my teacher. It’s inevitable that you will struggle, reach out to your teachers, they want to help you.

THE BOTTOM LINE: The teachers here want to see you succeed but they won’t hold your hand. You must be the one that goes and asks them for help you. It seems scary, but once you go, you’ll see how helpful they can be.

13 Have No Regrets

THE TIP: Don’t fail to work hard early on because you will regret it down the line.

THE STORY: I have seen so many of my classmates struggle through mediocre academic performances in their early years at La Salle. Every student who started off poorly with their schoolwork regrets it. If they could go back, they would change their attitude towards school in order to place themselves in a stronger position from the beginning. Transitioning to La Salle’s academic environment is tough, but with hard work everyone can succeed. Do not look back as a senior and wonder, “What if I worked hard as an underclassman?

THE BOTTOM LINE: Many students regret not working hard, but no student has ever looked back and wished they put less effort in.

THE TIP: Make choices that are best for your own situation before having fun or trying to please someone else.

THE STORY: I came to La Salle with great study habits my freshman year and that made getting good grades in hard classes easy. Hard classes are only tricky if you make them harder than they have to be. I would never play video games on a school night. Reward yourself with entertainment after your hard night of studying. Play video games or watch a show after you finish your work. It’s simple, but vital for success in school.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Put your schoolwork before pleasure, and you will cruise through, and enjoy, high school.

15 Study. Changing Habits to Get Good Grades

THE TIP: Find a way of studying that works best for you.

THE STORY: When I was a freshman, I struggled with doing my homework on time and lacked motivation. I didn’t know how to study for some classes, and it showed in my grades. I ended that year with a 3.11 GPA. The following year I found ways of studying that kept the lessons in my memory, so I knew how to perform well in those classes when tested. I was taking notes regardless of whether I reviewed them or not, it kept me paying attention in the classes that had long lectures and I ended that year with a 4.07 GPA. Sometimes what a teacher recommends that you do is not always what works best for you, so you should find out for yourself what works best for you. Watch online tutorials, find other practice problems, read online summaries, etc.

THE BOTTOM LINE: You need to guide yourself sometimes when trying to find effective modes of studying.

16

Schoolwork and Effort

THE TIP: Always give 110% in your schoolwork, never go half ass with effort.

THE STORY: During my freshman and sophomore year, I did not really care for my schoolwork and grades that much, and my grades reflected this. I would do my work and not think about if this was my best, and most of the time it wasn’t. It got to the point where my parents had to set up a meeting with my counselor about whether I deserve to keep this privilege by staying at La Salle. After I had a talk with my parents and my counselor, I realized how important it is to take your schoolwork seriously. Ever since that day of realization, my grades and thought process about working hard have improved drastically.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Hard work goes a long way. If you are going to do something, do it at your best. Going to LaSalle is a privilege, so don’t waste this.

17

Don’t Let Your GPA Define You.

THE TIP: At times it can seem like La Salle only cares about results in the classroom, but there is so much more to this school than that.

THE STORY: Coming into La Salle, I made it my personal mission to be the absolute best in the classroom, but at times this has brought struggles. I grinded for four years, and at times balancing this with football and a social life left me emotionally and physically drained. Loading up on seven APs my Senior Year, I now am poised to become Valedictorian of the class of 2024. Yet none of this matters when compared with the people and experiences La Salle has brought me. Understanding this was key in getting me through some really difficult times with stress and anxiety about my schoolwork. I know that, to a freshman with the same mindset I entered La Salle with this advice will go in one ear and out the other, but remember this: When college, APs, and standardized tests begin to terrorize you, it is the people around you that will keep you afloat.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Academics will seem like the most important thing in your life but look around at the people around you at La Salle and you will understand that THEY are what matters.

18 Freshman Year Counts Develop a Good Work Ethic.

THE TIP: Do ALL your assignments, your GPA matters.

THE STORY: My freshman year I thought it didn’t matter; colleges won’t care about freshman year I thought to myself. All I did was show up to school, half-ass my way through the day, playing games, and hanging with friends. I finished the year with a 2.7 GPA. I had a 3.5 sophomore year 3.6 Junior year and a 4.0 senior year. Just do your work and do your best. If you’re going to do something, DO IT don’t half ass it.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Do ALL your homework, try your BEST, don’t half ass things. As a freshman, it’s hard to think about college and academics, but the hard truth is that you will have to work hard all four years to achieve what you want.

19

Raise Your Hand

THE TIP: Participate in class.

THE STORY: While in class I found myself unsure of many answers to the questions my teachers were asking. This caused me not to raise my hand or attempt to answer, for fear of getting the question wrong. While in the short term, this strategy seemed to shield me from the embarrassment of giving the wrong answer, but it was stopping me from learning and getting the most out of my classes. Once I started to raise my hand more, I was able to better understand topics that were once confusing. Also, when it came to the test, I was better prepared and able to recall what we had talked about in class rather than just trying to remember what I heard. Because I was still engaged in what was going on in the classroom, my grades rose steadily and my relationships with my teachers was much better than the first semester.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Raise your hand even if you are unsure of the answer. That is how you learn.

20

Pay Attention

21

Coolest is Unhealthy

THE TIP: Don’t play games on your computer during class if you want to do well.

THE STORY: It’s really easy to get distracted by your computer in class. Freshman year I never listened to anything happening in class and would just play games for the full hour. I figured I would be able to just teach myself the material before the mid- terms and finals, but I was wrong. Sophomore year I decided I would actually listen and take notes in class and ended up doing much better.

THE BOTTOM LINE: If you don’t pay attention in class, you won’t know what’s going on, and you won’t do well in class.

THE TIP: Don’t take a lot of classes.

THE STORY: While registering for classes junior year, I had the idea to take as many classes as possible. I thought it was cool and would make senior year easy, but I didn’t realize how difficult it would be physically and mentally. After junior year started, I would spend every night staying up to 2-3 a.m. doing homework and waking up at 6 a.m. I would get stomach pains on and off, multiple times a week that would last several hours incapacitating me to the point I couldn’t stand up straight. One night, I got pains that would go away. I ended up in the CHOP ER with pains lasting over 11 hours. The doctor explained that stress can be a factor in stomach pains but thought it was unlikely.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Thinking you can bite off more than you can chew will lead you down a path of troubling pain.

22

Be Ambitious in Your Course Selection

23

Accepting Challenges.

THE TIP: Take advantage of electives and take classes that interest you.

THE STORY: I started taking guitar lessons my freshman year at La Salle. My sophomore year, when I saw that I could take a music production class, I was reluctant to enroll because I’d never done anything with music but play guitar. I had doubts whether I’d be good at producing music and was afraid at being the worst in the class, but I decided to take it anyway because it seemed interesting. It ended up being my favorite class and is now a passion of mine.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Don’t be afraid to take certain classes, be ambitious.

THE TIP: Making the most of your resources.

THE STORY: In my freshman year, I got a GPA high enough in history to take AP Modern World History in my sophomore year. I accepted the offer although I was a little concerned about the workload. Coming into sophomore year having to read a fivehundred-and-twenty-page book and write an essay on it was whiplash. The rest of the year, I struggled in this class, but got by with help. I gained skills more important than the grade by persevering. The workload was rough, and the tests were difficult, but I made it through.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself but know your limits. When challenged, never be afraid to ask for help. Your teachers are there to help you, and they will be even more willing to help when you show you care by reaching out.

24

Don’t Panic

Focus Your Mindset

THE TIP: When you fail a test, use the resources given to you by La Salle. Everyone at La Salle is around to help you, more than likely you’re not the only person who is in that situation.

THE STORY: Going into junior year I had not really had a math or science course challenge me to the point where those classes became my focus. At the start of the year, I felt confident that I could easily handle a regular Precalculus class by studying last minute like I always had. That did not work for me this time. Turns out, I got a 54% on my first math test of the year, and my overall grade started at a 61%. On top of this, I was taking my first AP science course, AP Physics. The days leading up to the first test, I convinced myself that AP Physics tests are tests that you cannot really study for. With this mindset, I bombed the first test with a whopping 73%. To say the least, I was freaking out. I thought my future was over. Luckily, I didn’t hesitate to reach out to both my Precalculus and Physics teachers and meet with them as soon as possible. I continued these meetings throughout the year and developed a cooperative relationship with both teachers to lock in for junior year. I geared myself completely for these classes. By the end of the year, I had completed the ultimate academic comeback and ended with a 90% in Math, and a 91% in Physics. By creating a relationship with these teachers and a lot of hard work I was able to succeed.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Failing a test or two is not the end of the world, reach out to your teachers and create a structured plan to get yourself back on track.

THE TIP: You should focus on fully understanding the content rather than focusing on your grade. If you understand the content, good grades will naturally follow.

THE STORY: When I came to La Salle, my grades were pretty good. However, I focused on what gave me an easy A. Even though I did all my homework and assignments, I eventually realized too late that doing this assignment without the right mindset would not allow me to grow mentally. This became apparent in my AP Tests, because I was only able to achieve the minimum passing score in all my tests. It became clear to me that I needed to change my mindset, and from then on, I have not cared at all about my grades and instead focused on understanding the concepts. As a result of my understanding, I have received good grades.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Your mindset is very important in achieving success, so whenever you face failure, consider that you may not be lacking, but perhaps you should change your mindset and goals.

26

Love Learning & your GPA will Follow.

27

Class Moves on With or Without You

THE TIP: Begin to learn how to learn, to love learning.

THE STORY: Throughout my four years of high school, my worst grades and GPA (3.14) was when I was focusing too much on grades and it became overwhelming. I was unable to keep up and began to be buried in a hole with work. Senior year, when I began to be curious about everything, love learning, and ask questions, I was able to achieve my highest GPA of 4.194.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Chase knowledge, not the GPA.

THE TIP: If you miss class for any reason, reach out to the teacher or classmates to see what you missed.

THE STORY: Typically, every year I miss a few days in a row due to a bad sickness, but I would not always be proactive in finding out what I missed. As a result, I not only would be bombarded by past assignments alongside my usual workload when I was better, but I also was missing vital information for tests I would take soon after returning. As one would expect, this ended horribly for me, and my grades suffered during that first week. Needless to say, I made sure to be much more proactive the next time I was sick. It really is not difficult to find out what you missed: all it takes is one text or email. So, don’t risk your grades because you think it will be fine.

THE BOTTOM LINE: You don’t know how much information you miss when you are absent so don’t assume you will be fine if you never seek it out.

28 Lifesaver or Waste

THE TIP: If you are in the David Program use it.

THE STORY: The resources in the David Program can be a big help, but if you don’t use them correctly it will be a huge waste of money.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Use it or lose it.

RELATIONSHIPS

29

Strangers to Friends

30

Be Open to Everyone

THE TIP: Be open to creating new friendships and relationships.

THE STORY: Freshman year was only a bit daunting in that I only knew a small group of kids. I wish I was not as shy my freshman year and got a head start on wanting to meet more people. Always keep your small circle of friends close but be friendly with those around you whom you may not hang out with. One of my closest friends I made at this school was a kid I never had spoken to until sophomore year. That goes for outside of school relationships too. Have your close circle of people, but creating a lasting and friendly environment will do wonders. Trust me.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Don’t think your close friends are the only people you can be friendly with.

THE TIP: It is important to keep an open mind when it comes to friends, you never know who is going to make a massive impact on your life.

THE STORY: I struggled throughout freshman and sophomore year trying to find a solid friend group. I never seemed to fit in, but why would I want to be friends with the WEIRD kids. Little did I know the connections that I made with the kids that I or others looked at as “weird” would change my life. They let me embrace my academic strengths and made some of the best jokes. They truly helped shape my La Salle Experience.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Be Open to everyone, you never know how life changing that friendship will be.

31 Cliques

32

Blank Slate, Open Mind

THE TIP: Don’t pay attention to the labels (nerd, cool, weird), most of them will go away.

THE STORY: During freshman and sophomore year, I was afraid to be labeled as someone who wasn’t cool, and so I kind of avoided getting to know the kids who were “nerds” or “weird”. If any of those labels are cast on someone as an underclassman, 99% of those labels will be gone by the time you graduate. In sophomore year I remember seeing someone who played football and was “cool,” but I would also see him talking to the people I labeled as “nerds.” I didn’t understand that at the time, but a couple years later some of my best friends are the people I put those labels on in freshman year. And at the same time, I’m also friends with some of the guys who were supposed to be “cool”.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Try to meet and be friendly with everyone, because upperclassmen don’t cast labels on each other.

THE TIP: Be open to everything.

THE STORY: Do not come into La Salle with any preconceived notions about anyone. No matter what sport, what club, what class someone is in, they have the potential to become your best friend. Do not judge any book by its cover because there are a lot of cool people across all different backgrounds that can really make your experience here at La Salle.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Do not judge a book by its cover.

33

Branch Out

THE TIP: Don’t be afraid to make friends.

THE STORY: When I was in freshman year, I only knew about 5-10 kids from middle school. I didn’t know anyone in my band class, and I was always nervous to strike up a conversation. One day I saw a group of kids from my class sitting at a lunch table. I decided to go over and sit down and start talking to them. We are still all friends to this day.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Don’t be afraid to talk to people. Just be yourself and you’ll find your friends.

34

Branching Out

THE TIP: Putting Yourself Out There

THE STORY: Like many people, I came to this school knowing absolutely no one. From the second I walked into La Salle, I was afraid that I would make very few friends or find people with similar interests. Fortunately, I decided to put myself out there by interacting in class more as well as joining a bunch of clubs and sports. It was by far the best decision I ever made. I made a bunch of friends, found passions within these groups, that ultimately made me feel a lot more confident and excited to go to school.

THE BOTTOM LINE: There are a countless number of things that you can get involved with at La Salle and I recommend doing as much as you can and meeting as many people as possible. You’ll be surprised as to what you can get out of it.

35 Branching Out of Your Comfort Zone

THE TIP: Get Uncomfortable

THE STORY: Coming into La Salle I had two friends and exiting La Salle I’d like to say I have a few hundred guys I would call my brothers. How did this happen? I got uncomfortable. I involved myself in clubs and sports that I did not necessarily want to do but eventually ended up benefitting from them and enjoying them. I threw myself in these situations where I had no choice but to make friends and make the best of my situation. The first time I hung out with La Salle guys outside of school I was extremely uncomfortable because it was a new group. After about an hour or so, we all clicked, and the rest was history.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Embracing un-comfortability can be extremely beneficial. Branch out and experience new things because you do not have much to lose.

36

Best Ways to Make Connections

THE TIP: Don’t be scared to branch out and make connections with students and faculty throughout the school. The connections you make here at La Salle are valuable and will continue after your time here.

THE STORY: I came into La Salle only knowing a few guys and was very overwhelmed with the large class size as it was something I wasn’t used to. I thought it was going to be difficult to make friends during my first few weeks here, but I started making conversation with guys around me in classes and by joining clubs and sports teams. Now, most of those guys are my closest friends and I am friendly with most of my class. Getting involved, branching out, and not thinking too much about how people perceive you are the easiest and most successful ways to make friends and make yourself known at La Salle.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Try to branch out as much as possible, everyone is in a similar position as you.

37 Lock In

38

Don’t be Worried if you Struggle to make Friends.

THE TIP: Allow yourself time to immerse yourself in the school.

THE STORY: I came into freshman year not knowing a single person and was extremely frustrated because I had previously had so many friends and was very popular at my former school. There were even days when I questioned whether I belonged here. Everyone is looking for immediate satisfaction, but the reality is that it’s going to be hard, and you aren’t alone. Integrating myself through football and wrestling, but also being a consistent presence around school, I created relationships with everyone, students, and teachers.hour or so, we all clicked, and the rest was history.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Don’t miss out on a once in a lifetime experience because of feelings of loneliness. I promise that you will find your place at LaSalle if you let time do its thing.

THE TIP: Do not be worried if you struggle to make friends at first.

THE STORY: I knew almost no one going into La Salle. I was a shy kid, so I struggled to make friends. Over the course of the year, I became less shy and began talking to more people, but I still didn’t find a group of friends that I thought were like me. I began to lose a little bit of hope, but towards the end of freshman year and beginning of sophomore year, I found a group of guys that I have been boys with ever since. Make sure to remain true to your authentic self. Many students struggle with making friends freshman year, so if you remember to be your true authentic self you will eventually find friends that are much more like the real you.

THE BOTTOM LINE: BE YOURSELF. Even if it means taking a little longer to make friends, you will eventually find the right group of guys at La Salle that will make these four years amazing.

39 Friends Take Time. Freshman Year Can be Hard.

40

Just Start a Conversation

THE TIP: Don’t panic about how long it takes to find your boys.

THE STORY: Long story short, I found that I had no one that I could talk to even though it was the almost the end of freshman year. I eventually met a small group of people, which has now grown to be a large circle of my friends over my four years of high school. If you don’t sweat the mess, and you keep trying to meet people, you will make it eventually. As time passed by, we started getting our licenses and became friends with upperclassmen that could pick us up for rides. Don’t stress out freshman/sophomore year about not having many parties or hangouts, it will get easier.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Don’t stop putting yourself out there, even if you feel like it’s too late. It will work out eventually. Keep trying, because the only way you will end up with no one is if you don’t try to find someone.

THE TIP: Talk about anything with anyone.

THE STORY: Coming into La Salle I knew no one. I was a quiet kid and had a hard time making friends at first. Eventually I opened up to a group of friends, which over the years has grown. I think I have been my most social in my senior year and it has been my favorite year at La Salle. The biggest step I took was not being afraid to start a conversation with someone you don’t normally talk to. That one conversation can lead to a friendship you never expected.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Meeting new people can be hard but it’s simple if you can open up with a conversation.

41 Speak Up

THE TIP: Don’t be intimidated coming to a new environment. Talk to people.

THE STORY: Everyone else including you are coming to a new school. Everyone wants to make new friends; all you need to do to make friends is talk to people. It is as simple as that. I came to La Salle not knowing any of my classmates. I had no experience going to a big school like La Salle after going to the same small grade school my whole life. I acted way too shy my first year and did not get to know as many people as I hoped. The things that helped me the most were joining sports/extracurriculars and just being more approachable to others. Don’t be scared to start conversations with the guys in your classes or in your homeroom. Don’t be glued to your phone because it makes it seem like you don’t want to talk to the people around you.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Everyone else is just as nervous as you. You’ll thank yourself if you put in some effort to make connections.

42

Find your Friends.

THE TIP: Your friend group is already somewhere within LaSalle; you just need to find them.

THE STORY: As a freshman and sophomore, I was all over the place in terms of friend groups. I didn’t know who I could fit in with or which group was really the one I wanted to actually be with. It wasn’t until the end of sophomore year that I branched out and started to just hang out more with the friends of one of my mutuals, and we hit it off from there. Over time, the group expanded as we found kids who shared interests and hobbies both in and outside of school.

THE BOTTOM LINE: You’re not alone, you just need to find the right people who fit your style.

43 Staying Connected

44

Making a Friend

THE TIP: Find friends that care about you early.

THE STORY: Freshman year I made a lot of my friends through baseball. I grew close to a few of the kids and hung out with them regularly through the summer, fall, and winter. I thought that would change when I was cut from the team sophomore year, but that wasn’t true. Instead of cutting me off and disregarding me, because I wasn’t on the team, they made time for me. It was then when I realized how special La Salle was and how important it is to find REAL friends. These are now my brothers forever.

THE BOTTOM LINE: La Salle is a special place with special people. These will be your friends for a lifetime.

THE TIP: A free pass to making friends.

THE STORY: Everyone wants to immediately have a group of people who they click with, but they may not come into La salle with that group. That is perfectly okay there are so many others that are in the same exact situation as you who are looking to find this group as well. When I came into La salle I was one of those kids who only had one or two people coming into the school together, unfortunately I waited weeks before I finally just decided to talk to the people around me and I immediately found that everyone is also like me just a freshman looking to make connections. I took my own advice and I met and continue to meet people. I found all different kind of cliques that I was able to join and find a variety of friends.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Speak up you are a freshman and everyone else in your grade is a freshman.

45 Stop Overthinking It.

46

Don’t Be Afraid to Change

THE TIP: We’re all in it together.

THE STORY: Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there especially in the first few weeks of school. In my first few weeks at La Salle, I was extremely nervous to meet new people and worried that I would not meet new friends. After a while I realized that it was all in my head. I started to put myself out there more and everything changed. I realized that everyone is in this together and La Salle is an extremely welcoming place. If you ever have a question or need a small favor, go up to any kid in the hallway and they will be more than happy to help. That is why La Salle is so special.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there especially at a place like La Salle.

THE TIP: Move outside of your comfort zone.

THE STORY: Coming into La Salle I had a small group of friends from middle school. As time progressed, I eventually grew out of relationships with them, and it was time to move on. Moving on was hard at first, but eventually I had to move out of my comfort zone and build new friendships with new people. I decided to sit at a different table and begin talking to new people and connecting with new people through common interests and different classes whether it was bonding over class work or even sports. The more you put yourself out there the quicker it will be to make new friends.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Don’t be afraid of moving outside of your comfort zone, guaranteed you will find the people for you.

47 Have Faith. Don’t Fret about Friends

THE TIP: Trust your own abilities socially and know that most people aren’t as judgmental as you’d like to think.

THE STORY: Coming to La Salle virtually by myself, reaching out to others was a daunting task and one which I struggled with significantly. I thought I couldn’t talk to people and figured most of them wouldn’t accept me if I did. This initial reservedness and anxiety led to me having nobody to talk to until junior year. What I’ve eventually came to realize is that reaching out, starting something new, is never easy. What’s important is that you aren’t deterred. Put yourself out there.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Get comfortable with the uncomfortable.

48 Show You Care

THE TIP: Make friends with your teachers.

THE STORY: Through my years at La Salle, I made huge relationships and friends with certain teachers. I didn’t just show up to class and sit and listen but spent time with my teachers and I showed how important one class was to me. I made great friends with teachers my older brother had and knew but I made better relationships with teachers who didn’t know me, and it helped greatly.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Being friendly with teachers is worth it and it shows you care.

49

Counselors & Connections

50 Nobody Cares Be Yourself.

THE TIP: Don’t be afraid to become close with the counselors.

THE STORY: The counselors at this school are some of the best people you will meet. They only want to help you and are great at their job. I built connections with multiple counselors over my four years even if I had no problems that I needed to talk about. It was nice knowing that if I needed to, they would prioritize me and listen to whatever and it’s confidential. Just being able to greet them in the hallways every day can go a long way.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Build connections with counselors.

THE TIP: Being yourself will put you with your true friends, not being yourself will put you with your non true friends.

THE STORY: I was not myself at the beginning of my journey at La Salle, trying to do more and be with people I wasn’t meant to be with. Now I am more myself and have never been happier with the people in my friend groups. Everyone had an identity in grade school. Nobody in high school cares if you were smart or athletic before, you’re just a person now. Whatever your background is (economic, religious, personality, etc.), it does not change anything. The present is all the matters.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Don’t be cooler than you think you are. People care about who you are, not who you were.

51

Smile More

THE TIP: Showing the pearly whites more often makes your life better. Trust me, it works.

THE STORY: When I was a freshman, I had terrible teeth. I had to wear top and bottom braces (long after most of my friends’ braces were taken off.) My freshman year, I tried to go out of my way to limit how much I smiled, because I was so mortified of my appearance compared to other kids in my grade. If you’re reading this, try your hardest to live life with a smile on your face. Laugh a bit. Life is meant to be fun. Even on the days where things are challenging, try to even force yourself to smile. I promise it will be worth it.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Smiling makes life better, opens opportunities, and creates authentic and lasting bonds with people. It also makes you happier. It is scientifically proven.

52

Making Friends

53 Find Yourself First.

THE TIP: Don’t try to be a different version of yourself that you think that people will like just to make new friends. The more you are yourself the more fun you will have when you find your friends.

THE STORY: When I was a freshman, I was pretty lucky because I had a lot of kids, I already knew from grade school coming in. However, those guys aren’t even my closest friends at La Salle. The more I realized I was trying to fit in with those kids the more unhappy I became with them. So, I decided to be who I am and then my friend’s kind of just fell into place. It’s kind of hard to describe but you will know the feeling when it happens when you find your friends.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Don’t change who you are. Be you. The more you mask yourself the worse it’ll be.

THE TIP: Don’t try to be someone you’re not just to fit in with certain people.

THE STORY: I see too many kids, including myself, trying to change themselves and doing stupid things freshman and sophomore year just to fit in with groups of kids who they think are “cool.” By the time junior and senior year come along they are lonely.

THE BOTTOM LINE: You are only going to confuse and make a fool of yourself. Everyone at La Salle by the time you’re a senior is “cool” in their own way. The best way to make friends is to find what you’re passionate about, sports, service, clubs, etc. Once you figure this out you will naturally gravitate towards the people who you will have true friendships with and find out where you really belong.

54 Worried About Meeting New People.

55 Being Lonely is a lot Different from wanting to be Alone.

Making New Relationships, While Keeping your Past ones Close

THE TIP: Don’t be intimidated by other people. You are not inferior. Just fake it until you make it.

THE STORY: I came into school very worried about anxious. I was scared to talk, and this set me back socially. I viewed myself as lower than others. Then I started to just act like I was just as good as everyone else even though I did not believe so. It took me awhile but slowly I started making new friends and not being afraid of others.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Just keep trying to put yourself out there.

THE TIP: Do not go four years without making friends or connections here.

THE STORY: I came to La Salle wanting to be hidden and away from other people. I was tired of the closeknit middle school community and decided to just be my own independent person. I took a year to myself in freshman year, made a friend or two, but then I continued doing it because I thought feeling alone all the time was the best thing ever, distancing myself from them in the process. It negatively affected me socially and mentally. I fortunately was able to catch myself at the end, and converse with others, but I regret not being able to join the other guys my age having fun and having laughs a lot sooner.

THE BOTTOM LINE: The truth is, it is holistically beneficial to be alone from time to time, but it becomes a problem when all you seek out is alone time and begin pushing others away in the process, causing you to be alone. Loneliness is different from being alone, and sure is a lot more unfortunate. You cannot craft yourself into your own person if you do not have others to help mold you. Make friendships, even if it is only a few.

THE TIP: Make and keep friends.

THE STORY: When I first started high school, I thought that I would find it hard to make new friends. My close group of friends was now spread out to different schools, and I felt like I had to start all over again. As I continued through my four years of high school, I quickly began to realize that relationships are the most important thing in life. Relationships with friends, new and old, with family, and your teachers and peers. I met new people and made new friends and started new relationships with people. At the same time, I realized that I had to keep the ones that I had already made. During my time in high school, I even introduced my old friends to my new ones, and they started their own friendships through that.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Relationships are important. Make sure to maintain relationships. It can never hurt to be friendly with a lot of people.

INVOLVEMENT

57 Get Out There!

58 Stretch Yourself

59 Don’t Isolate, Activate!!

THE TIP: Branch outside what you’re used to.

THE STORY: My freshman year, the only involvement I had to show for myself was competition band and other music activities as well as service. However, I knew I had always been an athlete. I wanted to meet new friends and develop a new passion. Because of this, I made the impulsively good decision to branch out and try rugby. At the first practice sophomore year I loved it.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Disregard your fears and anxieties, do what you want to see yourself doing.

THE TIP: Expand your comfort zone to lengths you’ve never imagined.

THE STORY: At first, I found it hard being at a new school with only one person from my old school. I was nervous and dreading the idea of not making friends. Instead of just staying where I was and accepting my situation, I pushed myself to make friends and talk to people I normally wouldn’t. I tried sports I never thought I would play and played for 2 different varsity teams while playing 3 different sports over my time at La Salle.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Don’t let yourself fall back into what’s comfortable because at the end of the days that isn’t what’s best for you.

THE TIP: Be active in the many activities and clubs at La Salle.

THE STORY: During my freshman year, I remember just isolating myself and trying not to make friends, as I wasn’t as confident, and was really quiet. Near the end of the second semester, I realized that isolating myself wasn’t going to get me anywhere, which is when I activated myself and made my group of friends, which increased every year, especially during sophomore and junior year through the many activities I participated in, instead of isolating myself

THE BOTTOM LINE: Don’t Isolate Yourself. Instead activate yourself and be active making friends with the people around you.

60 Involvement is

THE TIP: If you come into LSCHS as an athlete, don’t make your whole experience at La Salle about athletics.

Key

THE STORY: Coming into La Salle I was a hockey guy. It wasn’t until the end of my sophomore year when I decided to open myself up and expand my interests. I got more involved in community time, service, and other La Salle sports. I meet a lot of great guys that I didn’t know I was going to meet. And I found out a lot about myself. The connections I made from these experiences are what really connects me to La Salle and has me excited to be here every day.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Get involved so you can evolve.

61

Just Do It

Get Involved

THE TIP: Sign up for different club/service trips. They might seem boring, but they are far from it.

THE STORY: Freshman year doesn’t really offer any opportunities for lengthy trips, but throughout sophomore to senior year there a lot of trips to sign up for ranging from a service trip in Philly for a few hours to a 3-night skiing trip in Canada. I made the mistake of not going on any trips in my time at La Salle and I missed out on chances to go to new places, have fun with friends, and create and strengthen relationships with my classmates. Not only are these trips a good experience to go on, but they also look good on college applications later on.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Going on trips with classmates not only broadens your horizon but also develops your connection to your Lasallian classmates.

THE TIP: Join a team or a club. This makes it a lot easier to meet new people freshman year. Don’t be the kid who did nothing during their four years, people I know who did this regret it. Also stick with your team.

THE STORY: During your freshman year try to join a sport a team or join an after-school club. I know many kids who did nothing during their four years, and they regret it. Try to play a sport or if you know you won’t make the team, be a manger. Mangers are very important part of a team, and La Salle needs them to run teams. Also, don’t be the kid who quits a sports team because they didn’t want to play JV as a junior or they knew they wouldn’t play that much as a senior. Many people who did this regret doing this. It is always fun to play a sport representing La Salle.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Don’t be lazy and get involved in some way at La Salle

63

Participate in Everything

THE TIP: At La Salle, we have many extracurricular activities, clubs, and groups. Do something.

THE STORY: As a freshman, I moved to Pennsylvania with no friends and joined the football team. After breaking my leg, I could no longer play any sports, which left me with no friends hating my experience at La Salle. I joined the crew team in which I had never rowed before and started becoming friends with some of the guys. After getting cut in the spring, I started wrestling. After that, I tried out for the volleyball team and didn’t make it and now I am the captain of the ultimate frisbee team. For my first two years I would waste my time sitting alone with no friends on my phone. But once I started getting involved, I loved my experience at La Salle and love my friends.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Participate in anything you can, you will meet some of your best friends and feel involved. Do not waste four years doing nothing.

64

Leave to Serve

THE TIP: Learn to embrace the La Sallian spirit of service and do some service!

THE STORY: There is much more to La Salle than a great education and opportunity. La Salle is a community built upon giving more than you take and my friends and I learned this ideal through the service opportunities offered. The time we’ve spent down in the city helping the homeless exposed us to how gifted we are and that our gifts should be used to uplift each other.

THE BOTTOM LINE: You are very fortunate to be in La Salle and receive the education you are receiving so spend some time to help people less fortunate and experience empathy.

65

Don’t Wait

Never too Late

THE TIP: Don’t hold off on joining something. It might lead to you being alone.

THE STORY: When I came to La Salle, I tried out for the soccer team. After the first tryout, my knee started to swell, and I found out that I had Lyme disease in my knee. That set the whole mood for my freshman year. I did not try out for any other sports after my knee healed, and I did not join any clubs. I did not have any friends to help me while I was on crutches, I was not really focusing on my academics, and I was eating lunch by myself. I was alone. This continued through my sophomore year. I was not passionate about joining clubs or sports, but my counselor recommended Track and Field. I joined it, but I still felt alone. Then the BSU (Black Student Union) was created, and I got to meet a lot of different people. Through Sophomore year, I started to socialize more with people on the Track team and the BSU. Because of this, junior and senior year was better. I was socializing more, eating lunch with others, and my grades were really good. I also joined the Anime club my senior year. I felt like I was a part of the La Salle community. Throughout my four years, I was really focusing on my grades, but that is not the only thing about school.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Don’t be like me. Get involved as soon as you can. It can boost your outlook on life that will help with your grades, attitude, and your mental health.

THE TIP: It is never too late to get involved with something you could be interested in.

THE STORY: When I was a freshman and sophomore I wasn’t involved with any aspect of the music department at La Salle. During the summer going into my junior year, I became really interested in music and learning an instrument. I was nervous and thought it was too late in my high school journey to try and join the music program, especially when I had no experience with music or playing an instrument. However, I pushed through my fear and started taking lessons offered by the school. Now in my senior year, I am involved in a school band and take a music production class.

THE BOTTOM LINE: It is never too late to try something new and there are people everywhere who will guide you through any activity you may want to purse.

67

Mr. 2:40

68

Embrace the Community

THE TIP: Don’t be the kid at LaSalle that goes home at 2:40 every single day.

THE STORY: Here at La Salle, I have gone home at 2:40 but it’s very rare, usually I am always doing something after school if that’s a school workout or a practice for my respected sport teams. I have always been here after school and that’s how I have built my friendships throughout these 4 years. It has also given me a purpose and makes me feel like I am doing something with myself that isn’t just going to school and going home. There is so much at this school and so much for people to get involved in, so there is no point to be going home on that bus at 2:40 to go home and do nothing. Stay at school, go to a club, do service, or play a sport. There is so much you can be doing and so many people you can meet and best of all there is a purpose for yourself you can make.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Just don’t be that person that goes home right when school ends there is so much for you at this school, make the most of it don’t waste these four years away.

THE TIP: Push yourself and get involved at La Salle, especially if you don’t want to.

THE STORY: I had a lot going on when I came to La Salle, I lived 30 minutes away and thought I was above getting involved in anything. People had always told me to do things at La Salle, and that “if you leave at 2:40 then you aren’t truly taking advantage of everything La Salle has to offer.” In the middle of Junior year, I realized they were right. I realized I didn’t like many of the people I surrounded myself with, and that I wasn’t very connected to the La Salle community. I didn’t push myself to try new things or get involved, and because of that I spent much of my time at La Salle just going through the motions. Get involved with something at La Salle, because the community you gain from doing that will make your four years the best.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Get involved in something at La Salle, and show up even when you don’t want to, looking back you’ll thank yourself.

69

La Salle Sports

70

Going to Games

THE TIP: Get involved in something you enjoy.

THE STORY: Going into freshman year, I was not very dedicated to anything. I was not involved at all in the school and felt like I had no place in the La Salle community. Sophomore year, I got serious with football and found my belonging. From sophomore year to senior year, I made a ton of friends, made a ton of connections, even got a Division-1 scholarship, and most importantly felt happy all because of getting involved in one activity at La Salle.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Find meaning within the community and have fun.

THE TIP: Go to every single game that you can.

THE STORY: I missed the game that La Salle beat prep in football. I’m still disappointed I missed that game. There are only so many games to watch and you never know when the best game of the year might happen. I’ve had great times at football, hockey, basketball, soccer and lacrosse games. Getting a good student section together and cheering on your brothers is a great time no matter what. Just get a group of friends and go watch the game.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Make the most of the time that you can cheer on your own team and go to every game possible.

71 When One Door Closes, Another Opens

THE TIP: It’s not the end of the world if something doesn’t work out. You will find something new and master it.

THE STORY: Freshman year, I didn’t do much. I was waiting for baseball season to come around and for me to try out. Sadly, I didn’t make the team and I felt behind because I didn’t do anything freshman year. Sophomore year, I came to the first day of school looking for opportunities. After a few months, I found WEXP. WEXP opened the door to a world of possibilities. I have multiple streams of income that all stemmed from WEXP. I don’t know if I would be where I am now if I made the baseball team freshman year.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Getting cut from a team is not the end of the world.

72

There Is Always Another Activity

THE TIP: Even if one activity goes bad and you fail, there is always another door open. You just need to be able to walk through it.

THE STORY: Freshman year, I tried out for baseball, and I made the team over a big group of players. This made me feel that I was a lock to play for the rest of my four years. But sophomore year, I was cut and did not know what I was going to do next. So, I joined rugby and I’ve had so much fun. Since I took the idea of joining a new sport sophomore year, it has been the best decision I have made in four years.

THE BOTTOM LINE: If you get cut or fail from an activity, there’s always another option open. Don’t be afraid to try something new.

73

Don’t Knock It Until You Try It

74 Don’t Judge Something Before Trying It

THE TIP: You don’t know if you like something until you try it.

THE STORY: Freshman year, I was not really involved in anything and went home every day. Sophomore year I had to get a gym credit, so I tried Track & Field and enjoyed it a lot. As a senior, I wanted to spend more time running so I tried Cross Country. I absolutely hated it.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Getting involved gives you a chance to find things you like and dislike.

THE TIP: Stay involved.

THE STORY: Freshman year I wanted to stay involved, so I decided to try out for volleyball. Like pretty much everyone else I thought volleyball was a girl’s sport and the kids who played were weird. Well, I couldn’t have been more wrong. I’ve met some of my closest friends playing volleyball at La Salle and I’ve made memories that will last a lifetime. Volleyball has been by far the most fun I’ve had during my time at La Salle.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Keep an open mind and try new things.

75

Make the Most of It

76

Do What You Want

THE TIP: To make the most out of La Salle, you need to put as much as possible into it.

THE STORY: Your parents sacrifice a lot to send you to La Salle, so do not waste any time once you get here. Take advantage of the opportunity you have in being here and try as many new things as possible. Myself and so many of my friends have found passions just from trying new things and taking advantage of all that La Salle has to offer. Never be the guy that goes home right after school every day because you will want to spend as much time here as possible once it is over.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Be open and get involved, because if you do not you will regret it as you get older.

THE TIP: From the very first moment you walk into the front entrance at La Salle, do what you want to do, not what is popular, or what everyone else does.

THE STORY: From the start of my La Salle career, I knew I wanted to be a musician. I waited until the end of junior year to tell the faculty about my ambitions and was met with the hard truth, that this was a very difficult thing to achieve. My junior year summer I worked, and I worked to try and become the person I hoped to be. If I had shown my ambitions from freshman year, I would have known what to do and been given the resources for it.

THE BOTTOM LINE: If you know your path, stay on that trail. Do not let anyone tell you what you can or cannot do.

WELL BEING AND MENTAL HEALTH

77

Staying Calm

78 Embrace the Now.

79 Flow

THE TIP: If you ever feel yourself getting stressed out, slow down and take it day by day.

THE STORY: Coming into high school can be a stressful time, and through your four years you’ll encounter stretches of time that seem to be a lot in terms of work and maybe just overall life. These times can be mentally draining, so a good way to approach it is by slowing down and just focusing on the day you’re currently in, or just what you must do for this week and worry about the rest when you’re in a better headspace.

THE BOTTOM LINE: You work and retain information better when you are in the calm mindset to work. Try not to get too overwhelmed.

THE TIP: Enjoy the little things in life.

THE STORY: Enjoy sitting with your friends at lunch, going to the sports games, talking to your friends in class, and enjoying all the little things because you never know when they can be taken from you. Even when you are going through bad moments, embrace them and become a better person.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Don’t go through life without enjoying the little moments.

THE TIP: Enjoy the processes and live in the moment; these times don’t last forever.

THE STORY: I went to LaSalle with what I thought to be a full-proof plan for success. My plan for life would be easy: four years in, four years out, then college, then a job, then retirement, etc. In the process, I was so focused on what I needed to do next, whenever I faced a challenge in the present, I would panic. I realized I was not appreciating what I have now. Looking back, falling down the first-floor steps on my first day of school, meeting new friends during 6th period free, even suffering through long hours of homework, I miss those times.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Don’t be so set on what you are expecting yourself to be, just live in the moment and things will work out.

80

Worrying about Tomorrow only takes away from Today’s Peace.

THE TIP: There are some things that are out of your control and that is ok. Stressing about them will not make it any better.

THE STORY: Throughout my first two years at La Salle, I worried about everything you could imagine. Whether it was about my grades, social life, involvement at La Salle, or what I would do for college, I could not help overthinking everything I did, and it was miserable and exhausting. One of the most helpful things that got me over this was realizing that stressing about what is going to happen in the future will not make it better, all it will take away your ability to enjoy the present. At La Salle there will be things that you don’t want to do and stress over, but you must remember that overthinking it will only hurt you.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Don’t let things that are going to happen in the future ruin how you are feeling now. Don’t stress about what you will have to face tomorrow, realize everything will be alright.

81

Challenges

THE TIP: Ask for help.

THE STORY: In middle school, school came easy to me. I scored high with little to no effort in every class. When I came to La Salle, I experienced my first academic challenges and due to my inexperience with it I struggled. I didn’t know how to work through it, I didn’t know how to ask for help. By the time my parents and teachers had caught on I had already dug myself into a pit. Even when I was offered help, I ignored it, because of my pride. I thought that my problems were mine alone, but it was only with friends and family pulling me up that I made it out of a difficult year.

THE BOTTOM LINE: There are people around you at La Salle that are always willing to offer a helping hand. You are bound to struggle in one place or another, you might as well have a friend, family member, or teacher guide you through it.

You are not Alone. Don’t Bottle it Up.

83 Prioritize Your Well-Being – It Helps Everything Else

THE TIP: Talk to Your Counselors

THE STORY: My sophomore year, one of the members of our varsity soccer team passed away. It was an extremely hard time for everyone, and for a while I tried to keep all my emotions inside, and it ultimately hurt my relationships, grades, and mental health. Your circumstances do not have to be this extreme, but your counselors are always in your corner, and are ready to listen and guide you. Talk to them, listen to what they have to say, and I promise you will feel much better knowing that someone has your back.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Don’t fall in the social stigma, talk to someone. You are never alone, La Salle is a brotherhood, not just a school.

THE TIP: Being a teenager comes with many challenges, including an increased level of stress, anxiety, and other mental health issues. Taking care of these issues will help you be the best version of you.

THE STORY: Going into La Salle I was as happy as ever. But towards my junior year, I started to get down on myself. Mental health was a real thing for me, and I did not know what to do. Instead of letting this anxiety and depression absorb me, I simply went to the faculty at La Salle whom I knew well, talking and getting advice helped me greatly. Without realizing it, you will build strong relationships with teachers and coaches at La Salle who become your mentors and friends. Use these people if you have any problems in your life. Don’t be scared to reach out, your faculty and coaches are your LaSalle parents. La Salle is a great place to get help. If you have someone you have a personal connection to, whether that be a coach, teacher, or counselor, go to them, they’re ready and willing to help. Getting this help will allow you to be the absolute best you can be.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Get help when you need it, it will benefit you for the rest of your life. If you don’t, you may regret it.

84

Be Friends with the Faculty

THE TIP: The teachers and faculty are here to help you, talk to them and ask for help when needed. The closer you become to some teachers, the more you can trust/talk to them when you need something or someone to talk to.

THE STORY: My freshman year when I was struggling with mental health, I met Mr. Jackson who basically saved my life. He was someone I could always go to and rely on when I needed it the most. If I never talked/met Mr. Jackson who knows where I would be. He introduced me to more faculty/teachers, and that’s when I realized everyone here wants to help you, not hurt you. It is okay if you need help or someone to talk to, the teachers are always there for their students at La Salle.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Someone at La Salle is always willing to help you. Don’t be scared to talk to your teachers and faculty members.

85 Who’s Best for YOU

THE TIP: Find the people that make you happy, no matter what you have previously thought about them.

THE STORY: For the longest time I saw all my teammates as weird guys who I did not really hangout with outside of school. However, as I got further into La Salle, I began to like them more and more and drift away from the other group of guys I hung out with. Now I spend every weekend with my teammates, they are my best friends, I’m happy, and they’re still some weird dudes- but it doesn’t even matter anymore.

THE BOTTOM LINE: You never know who will turn out to be an awesome person, never be afraid of branching out and making new connections with people!

THE TIP: Be yourself. You’ll find your crowd and overall be generally a lot happier if you just try to be yourself in high school.

THE STORY: Everyone in high school wants to be invited to the big parties, fit in, and be popular. So many people wear a mask in high school and are never truly happy with who they are. I struggled with self-esteem issues and always wanted to be someone I wasn’t. I was so unhappy with who I was and knew I wasn’t headed in the right direction. The second I started to be myself everything came into place. I found so many friends who liked me for me.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Once you accept yourself and who you are you’ll be so much happier and do things that’ll make you happy.

87

Just Be You

88

Thankful Prayer

THE TIP: Just be yourself each day and come in with a positive attitude.

THE STORY: My freshman year – sophomore year I was an awful student, probably one of the worst in the school. This was because I was too worried about what other people thought about me, so I tried to act like someone I wasn’t i.e. a tough dumb guy. This made those years hell until I decided to take charge and really focus on being the best student and person I could be.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Don’t try to be someone or something you’re not.

THE TIP: Pray for your thankfulness to God daily.

THE STORY: Sometimes it can be hard to see what is going right in your life when everything is going wrong. Pray to God and thank him. You are going to La Salle, so he has probably blessed you up.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Thank God

89 Live with and through the Community and God

90 Be Unbreakable

THE TIP: Work on yourself and your own well-being, utilize the community and all it has to offer.

THE STORY: I have gone through some tough things in my life and the La Salle community has been the single most powerful factor in my healing. Utilizing retreats to dive into the deep end of your emotions, forming lasting and sincere relationships to show the power of love and being a present member in the La Salle Community have all aided me in my life. Don’t underestimate the power of the brotherhood.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Find your identity.

THE TIP: Keep working even when you don’t want to, God will reward you.

THE STORY: During my junior season on the basketball team, I worked my ass off every practice and did everything I could to prove my spot. I knew I earned a spot and so did my teammates, but it didn’t work out. I couldn’t believe what was going on and questioned if hard work pays off. Trust me, it does. I didn’t know it last year, but after this previous season I do now. During the offseason I continued to work hard and didn’t let the past affect the present. I went from averaging under 5 minutes a game (also a junior on JV) to having 123 assists, 7 assists per game, 26 minutes averaged, and helped our team compete against the top teams in the PCL. No one expected me to do anything, but with confidence in your work you can do whatever you want.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Don’t let other people affect your work and have complete faith in God.

91 Hit the Gym

92 Sleep.

The Unexpected Key to Success

THE TIP: Exercise at Least three times a week.

THE STORY: I spent all my time studying or playing video games, which made me burned out and sleepy every day. This resulted in my grades dropping, having no energy, and not caring about my grades. However, once I hit the gym, I started to feel much more energetic. Going to the gym allowed me to take a break from all the work while still doing something productive. As a result, I felt much more refreshed each day, had way more energy, was more focused in each class, and was able to think more clearly. Even something as simple as running for 30 minutes each day or doing pushups would help me become more focused and energetic.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Exercise can help in so many ways.

THE TIP: At least eight to nine hours of sleep makes all the difference in the world, especially as you’re growing throughout high school, mentally and physically.

THE STORY: My freshmen and sophomore year I went to bed almost every night at 11pm. I didn’t have too much homework and I stayed up on my phone or playing with friends until I went to bed late. I would wake up at 6:20am every morning, and barely be able to get through the day without falling asleep in at least one of my classes. I was always tired on the field during games and practices. I was confused on why I was always so tired and lethargic, and not making the progress that I desired. During my junior year I made it my mission to go to bed no later than 9:30, always aiming for 9pm. I have never performed better in the classroom and on the field after that. It was the biggest and most important adjustment I’ve ever made. A couple hours more sleep a night, consistently, will make the biggest difference in the world.

THE BOTTOM LINE: If you want to succeed and give your best chance at winning in the classroom and on the field, get plenty of sleep when you get home. You’ll feel a thousand times better and you’ll perform in ways that surprise even yourself.

93

Go to Bed

94 Eat

THE TIP: Get sleep! Your body needs it so much more than you would think.

THE STORY: Throughout my past four years at La Salle, I struggled with one common issue that has impacted my academic performance: I was not getting nearly enough sleep each night. I believed sleep was not THAT important and I deserved to stay up late and relax on a school night because I had been doing work all day. As it turns out, I was completely wrong. I descended deeper and deeper into a hole of drowsiness and laziness. I greatly struggled with breaking this habit, and I was consistently on the verge of falling asleep during some classes. I could go on and on about the negative effects on my mental health from not getting enough sleep, but I hope that you will take my word for it and just get enough sleep.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Don’t make the same mistake that I did and just go to bed at an early and reasonable time on school nights. Forming good habits, especially getting proper amounts of sleep, will help improve you and make you feel better.

THE TIP: Properly fuel yourself so you can be at your best inside and outside of the classroom.

THE STORY: This may seem obvious, but you need the proper nutrition to succeed at La Salle. It can easily be disregarded when you aren’t hungry in the morning or when distracted. If your stomach is empty, focusing during class and getting things done will be much more difficult both physically and mentally. There were plenty of times in my earlier years where I just went on my phone for the entire free period just to get my mind off eating when I could have been getting work done. Make the effort to stay full either before school or during your free time. Always have your I.D on you so you can get through the line quickly while packing snacks to stay fueled. The healthier the foods the better.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Don’t forget to eat and stay hydrated.

95

Helping Others to make Yourself Feel Better

96

Don’t Be That Guy

THE TIP: Help those less fortunate and go to street outreach.

THE STORY: Street outreach is a wonderful experience to see life in a different view. Street outreach is driving down to Philly and handing out food and drink to the homeless. I got involved my junior year, and I wished I could have started earlier. Listening to these people’s stories and seeing their daily living conditions really opened my eyes. It opened my eyes to be more grateful for what I have in my life. It brought me a sense of thankfulness for everything in my life. Each week that I get the chance to help these people, it gives me this calm feeling. This calm feeling voids me from my stressful day and allows myself to make other people happy.

THE BOTTOM LINE: You are defined in what actions you take place in. So, take the time out of your day to help people who are struggling.

THE TIP: Don’t be the kid who is fried or leaving class every period to rip nicotine.

THE STORY: My sophomore year I came to school, ripped carts of nicotine during the day. I had a 3.7 my freshman year, 3.7 my junior year, and a 3.8 my senior year. Big shocker here is that my sophomore year I received a 2.8 GPA. It is embarrassing to be the kid who smokes weed all day, especially when you’re at a school that has as much to offer you as La Salle. Go use your time elsewhere, join the Ministry and Service team, play a sport, do robotics, whatever it is just do it. But don’t waste your time with stupid drugs.

THE BOTTOM LINE: If this is you coming into La Salle, make a change, you’ll be glad you did.

97

Be Yourself

THE TIP: Don’t try to fit in, be yourself and everything will work out.

THE STORY: When I first came to La Salle, I was scared on what to expect. I was constantly trying to fit in by acting or talking in a certain way. Since I was doing this, I never really had real friends. I proceeded to do this my freshman and sophomore year which led me to have no true friends which made me feel uneasy and turning to drugs to help me. After finding help, I came to understand that drugs are not the answer. Instead, I learned that embracing my true self attracts the right people into my life. When I began to be myself, I found that not only can you find lifelong brothers, but they will find you too. As I embark on my last years at La Salle, I am glad I started to be myself because I have created lifelong memories with my brothers.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Keep being yourself. Your brothers will find you for who you are and not for who you are acting to be.

TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIAL MEDIA

The Phone’s not Important

Introduce yourself to people and begin to develop relationships with other students in your classes and extracurriculars.

As you begin your freshmen year, talk to the people around you and try to build relationships. It doesn’t really matter what you talk about – it could be about how you both just failed a test, professional sports, your teacher, a new movie, etc. Try to put down your phone down and talk to people, you may not realize the value of meaningful relationships now, but you will by the time you leave this place. If you paint yourself as someone that is personable and outgoing, people won’t think you are weird for reaching out. Is it intimidating to be the first one to say something? Sure. But starting that conversation could help you find people that you will be friends with during La Salle and beyond. I now hate to use technology during school hours because I want to talk to people face to face. Using your phone too much will make your brain turn to blah and mess up your dopamine levels.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Relationships are key to success in high school and in life. Being personable and social are skills, so begin to develop them now. Enjoy the time with your friends at school and get off your phone, talking to them face to face. It will help you understand them better.

THE TIP: Put the phone down and talk to people.

THE STORY: When I was in Freshman and Sophomore year, I didn’t really interact with people that much. I was either too busy texting other people on my phone or just endlessly scrolling through social media. This drastically harmed my social life here at LaSalle. I would just show up to school and just pass the day by looking at my phone and not taking the time to interact with people after class or after school. Eventually I fixed this Junior year and was able to make some great friends by talking to them and not keeping to myself on my phone.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Have conversations with people. Turn the technology off and interact with people.

100 Stay off Your Phone as Much as Possible

THE TIP: Social media is a rabbit hole that is extremely hard to get yourself out of. It’s a quick hit of dopamine but does nothing good for you, so just avoid it as much as you can.

THE STORY: Throughout my four years at La Salle, the biggest issue I had struggled with is scrolling through social media for extensive amounts of time and not leaving enough time for work. It wasn’t until junior year that I realized how big of an issue it really is. It is designed to get people hooked and for them to only spend time scrolling looking at what other people are doing. You need to realize how low your phone is on the totem pole of priorities and take time away from it to do your work in a timely fashion or your grades and mental health will suffer.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Just figure out when you can and can’t take some time on your phone and realize that it is only good when everything else you must do is finished.

101 Your Phone isn’t that Important.

THE TIP: Get off your phone during class.

THE STORY: During my freshman and sophomore years, I saw so many of my friends and classmates on their phones during class, and I criticized them for it. Yet junior and senior year, I fell for the temptation and started using my phone in class when I got bored. As a result, I got distracted in class and missed important information and my grades began to drop slightly. I then realized I shouldn’t be sacrificing my grades which are extremely important for college, to just get on Instagram for 5 minutes. Being on my phone wasn’t worth me doing worse in school when my parents are sacrificing so much to put me through La Salle, so I made the change. I advise that you do the same.

THE BOTTOM LINE: You can go an hour without your phone during class..

102

Limit Social Media

THE TIP: Try to stay off social media as much as possible. It will help you develop stronger friendships and appreciate the time you spend with friends.

THE STORY: When I was a freshman, I did not know very many people going into the year. I had a few friends but was trying to find more people to hang out with. I made friends as the year went on and found that when I was with my friends, we had a way better time when none of us were on our phones, looking at social media, or talking to other people online rather than just spending time with each other in person. The friendships you make are very important and if you are just on social media the entire time while hanging out with them, they will not feel like they are being heard or having a fun time.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Social media, although made to connect people together, can make people have fewer friends and not enjoy the time they spend together nearly as much.

103 The Biggest Obstacle

104 Roller Coaster

THE TIP: One of the biggest barriers to your success at La Salle is your phone and social media usage. Avoid it as much as you can.

THE STORY: During Freshman year, I hit the ground running and had a great start. I studied for every test, never missed an assignment, and had a great deal of focus. As my time at La Salle progressed, I felt my focus slipping, and although not extreme, I saw my grades reflecting that. I picked up my phone more when doing homework and was significantly less productive during my free periods. I made a shift during my final year to limit my screen usage and time on social media. I found myself back on track and felt more fulfillment from completing tasks.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Learn how to properly focus when it is the right time and eliminate distractions.

THE TIP: Always think positively. Be confident in everything you do.

THE STORY: During my La Salle experience I feel like I’ve dealt with a lot of ups and downs. I’ve tried to be someone I’m not to “fit in” and I’ve been pretty down on myself. I feel like social media played a big part in what I thought or did, so always stay true to who you are. I found that when I just believed in who I am and surrounded myself with people I enjoyed being around, I was able to balance all the crazy things high school brings.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Be confident in everything you do and always be yourself. Don’t let other people change who you are.

105

Pitfalls of Social Media

106 Word Gets around Quick.

THE TIP: Use social media wisely.

THE STORY: Social media is a great tool to save memories. As a senior, I know there are more things I wish could have saved to remember better. However, whenever you post, there will always be someone at home feeling left out, wondering why they weren’t included. On top of that, things you might think are a good idea at the moment might not be the best idea to post, like posting something bad about someone else or posting a video of a friend doing something stupid.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Stay connected on social media but think before you post!

THE TIP: Be prepared that whatever you texted someone, posted, or sent someone, everyone is going to know or see what it is.

THE STORY: I am not saying this is such a bad thing, sometimes it is good when a lot of people know, but when you post or say something stupid that is where it can get bad. In my freshman year, like most, people make these big group chats, and you try to be funny, but when you say or send something stupid, everyone will save that picture/video or show or tell someone. Word spreads fast in high school, be prepared for those things to come up at the lunch table ha-ha.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Word spreads fast no matter what it is.

107 A Dumb Decision Discovered

THE TIP: Be very careful about what you post on social media as you do not know who could be looking and it can never be fully removed.

THE STORY: I used social media for fun, posting on Instagram and commenting on and liking funny posts. I never understood the dangers of social media until I got in trouble senior year with two friends of mine. I posted something inappropriate on Instagram with a caption related to La Salle. We thought it was a harmless post at the time, but that harmless idea blew up in our faces. A week later we were called into the Dean’s office one by one, shown the picture and questioned about it. They informed us how my public image is connected to the school and how disrespectful it was. We faced a harsh punishment for what we thought was such a harmless act.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Don’t do stupid things. Social media can only hurt you; it will rarely help you and it can affect you in the future.

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

108

Don’t be ObnoxiousAct Like You are in High School

109 Think About It

110

Don’t Do

Stupid… STUFF.

THE TIP: When you are in the halls or stairwells be quiet and do not disturb other people at work, and do not waste your time messing with people or trying to annoy them for your own good.

THE STORY: Countless times I have been walking through the halls and I see a group of freshmen trying to talk normally, which would be great, if they were not being so loud that I can hear them all the way down the hall. Doing this is disrespectful to your classmates in class trying to work and to teachers trying to teach. Other times I will see a freshman messing with other freshmen in an unfriendly way, doing this starts problems you do not want to have to deal with, and makes you look immature in front of other students and teachers.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Be as polite as possible and treat your peers and teachers with respect.

THE TIP: Don’t try to be cool, it’s annoying and corny.

THE STORY: When I came in as a sophomore transfer student, I tried to be “cool” and make friends, which don’t get me wrong, it’s fine trying to make friends, but don’t try to act like someone else to make friends. Or if you are that “cool” kid who is loud, obnoxious, and puts down other people, just don’t be that person. You will look back on yourself when you’re a senior and think what was I doing? When I walk past those type of students I think of my past self and just laugh in my head saying to myself, “They’ll learn.”

THE BOTTOM LINE: Just keep to yourself, do what you want to do, and everything will turn out fine.

THE TIP: Don’t do things that will put your grades, health, position in school at risk because you think what you are doing is cool or will help you.

THE STORY: I was caught doing something very stupid at school. It put my position at La Salle at risk. It made my life in-school and sometimes out of school miserable, so much to the point where I would dread waking up in the morning and would have to drag myself to school. Do not be imprudent and remember that your actions have consequences. There are great people at this school that want to help you learn and grow as a person, but they are unable to do so if you put your own personal vices and bad decision making above that.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Don’t do stupid STUFF.

111

Don’t Be a Jackass

112

Engage!!!

THE TIP: The best way to make friends is to accept yourself and others for who they are.

THE STORY: When I came into La Salle as a freshman, the idea of making new friends was going to be a new adventure for me. As I got to know a lot of different people and groups, I was observant on the way people treated one another. Everyone enjoyed the company of one another and that brought the community to life. Although, there is the minority of people that think they are better than everyone else. Don’t be that guy. Simple. As you’ve heard this your entire life, don’t be a jackass and treat others how you want to be treated.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Be yourself and it will reflect on others.

THE TIP: Participate in your classes, socially, and don’t waste your free periods.

THE STORY: As a senior I now reflect on the past and always wish I just engaged and did a little bit more in just about everything. What if that B+ was an A, what if I started paying more attention in class and fell in love with physics, what if I started hanging out with those dudes, what if I studied in my free periods instead of sitting on my phone? My life could be drastically better if I just engaged more.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Don’t waste your time at La Salle, it goes by fast, just a little bit more effort could affect what colleges you apply to or what your future holds.

113 Expand Horizons

THE TIP: Try things you might not think you’ll like.

THE STORY: When I was a freshman, I would always think, I would never do this, or I won’t like going to that, or I’m not going to make that team. This is one of my only regrets at La Salle, was having that mindset. So, a piece of advice for you incoming freshmen is, just go out and do things you don’t feel comfortable with because the worst that can happen is “no” or you might not like it. However the best thing is, you might end up liking this new thing, and it can forever shape the outcome of your life.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Do not miss out on opportunities do everything.

You’re Going to Fail at Some Point

THE TIP: Whether it is in the classroom or on the sports field everyone is going to fail something, how you recover is up to you.

THE STORY: After a year of hard work and dedication freshman year as a member of the swim team I thought there was no reason to be worried about tryouts sophomore year. However, I was wrong. That meeting with Coach after the second day of tryouts is something I’ll never forget, I was crushed. I remember the car ride home with my dad where I thought I would never swim again and was planning on giving up something that had been such a massive part of my life. That winter and spring I was still in the pool training for the upcoming water polo season, but deep down I knew I wanted to be on that team again. Junior year came around and after a hard year of work I was back on the team and had a great last two years and am now going to swim in college.

THE BOTTOM LINE: If you fall, get back up and try again.

115

Don’t Quit

THE TIP: If you don’t make a team or don’t get a good grade in a class freshman year do not give up.

THE STORY: When I was a freshman, I got cut from the golf team, instead of quitting and finding something else to do I stuck with it and worked extremely hard at it. After all the hard work I put in I made the team and continued to work hard. Fast forward three years from tryouts I am a senior and I am committed to a top division one school for golf on a full athletic scholarship.

THE BOTTOM LINE: If you want something to happen you must work as hard as possible for it and do not get caught up if it doesn’t work out right away.

116

Cut From a Sport?

THE TIP: Getting cut opens many opportunities… Make the most of them!

THE STORY: Coming into La Salle, baseball was a huge part of my life. I played during all seasons of the year, and I invested so many hours into training. But come spring of my freshman year, I was cut. I was devastated…but only for week. I quickly became wrapped up in the routine of going to class, doing homework, and hanging out with friends. Playing a sport at La Salle demands so much of your time, with practices and games happening 6 days a week for 2-3 hours at a time. Because baseball did not occupy all my time during the spring, I was able to join more clubs and invest more time into academics, ultimately allowing me to discover my passions (joined the engineering club) and develop good study habits. During this spring off from baseball, I was given time to reflect on whether I really wanted to continue playing this sport, and if I was willing to work and tryout again next year. I decided I wanted to, so I spent summer break in the weightroom and on the field training extra hard. I ended up making the team the next year.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Getting cut from a sport isn’t the end of the world. Be sure to embrace all the doors that the extra free time opens and figure out if you’re willing to sacrifice to make the team next year.

117

Find Your Balance

THE TIP: Don’t make your grades your entire life.

THE STORY: I’ve always been very invested in my academic achievements. Coming into high school, I was putting very high expectations on myself. While I was striving to achieve these goals, I realized that I was becoming very stressed and anxious. I was constantly worried about my grades and doing better than those around me. At some point I realized that I needed to step back and reassess what was important to me. I had to find a new balance to focus my life around.

THE BOTTOM LINE: While your grades are important, you need to still have a life outside of the classroom. Find stuff to do and people to hang out with. Finding your balance will make you much happier.

118 Find Balance

THE TIP: With tons of opportunities and free time at La Salle it is very important to balance it all out.

THE STORY: When I was a freshman, I didn’t have a ton of friends. As a result, I spent my free periods in the library grinding out my assignments. This allowed me to get a great GPA, but my social life suffered. Sophomore year I wanted to meet some new people and have more fun, so I spent every free period in the Glaser Center or in open gym. Because of that, my GPA suffered. Junior year I found the perfect balance between spending time with friends in the Glaser Center and working hard in the library, which helped me achieve my highest GPA as well as form the great group of friends that I have now.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Finding balance is fundamental to having success at La Salle both academically and socially. Once you find your balance, which is different for everyone, you will truly begin to thrive.

119

Social Balance

120

Do Hard Things

THE TIP: Make sure you balance out your time for academics and social life. Having school nights only for work and the weekend for fun is a good idea.

THE STORY: I used to spend a lot of time with my girlfriend and friends throughout the week and didn’t balance out my time for schoolwork and other things. This made me end up with mediocre grades that weren’t impressive to the college I wanted to get into.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Prioritize schoolwork and balance out your social life for the weekends.

THE TIP: Do one thing every day, week, month, and year that makes you uncomfortable.

THE STORY: Freshman year will already be hard and uncomfortable as it is, everyone is in the same boat in that regard. Embrace this feeling, knowing it is shared among all freshmen, and do something each day that is difficult or makes you uncomfortable. Talk to the kid sitting next to you in homeroom, introduce yourself to a teacher or even a coach before a tryout, or be the first to join a club. As someone who was not a fan of speaking in front of people, I was nervous at first when I had to give a speech to run for homeroom rep of Student Council, but it was 100% worth it when I got it and got to know my homeroom better.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Do the things that make you uncomfortable, because it makes everything else in freshman year easy by comparison.

121

Finding your Moment Outside of the Classroom

THE TIP: Don’t worry you will find that one thing that you are great at and will exceed at.

THE STORY: I came to La Salle thinking I had no idea what I was interested in, so I poured all of my time and effort into academics’ freshman year and ended with a 3.9 GPA. I join a WEXP Studio sophomore year and I fell in love with it and was down there every day. I finally found my place and a group of like-minded people. Being present at La Salle and just taking the jump to participate in a club or sport can be the best thing to set you up for the future and meet friends and mentors that can change the trajectory of your life.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Just be open to try new things and eventually you will find your thing.

122

Step Outside the Box.

123

Living in a World that is Better Than You

THE TIP: Get involved.

THE STORY: As a freshman I was way too worried about what people would think of me. I wouldn’t really talk much or get involved in much because I wanted to just act “cool”. Little did I know that was big mistake. I couldn’t find a group of friends to talk to freshman year. I was a kid that didn’t have many friends or a friend group. This was until I got involved by playing a sport. I found a great group of people that are my friends to this day.

THE BOTTOM LINE: I would highly recommend getting involved in as much as you can at La Salle. Not just to say that you did something, mainly to meet new people that will be your friends for life.

THE TIP: No matter what, achieving any kind of success is unique to you and you only. Do not let other’s success hinder your pleasure in achieving new heights.

THE STORY: No matter what, in life people will always be people better than you in every aspect, so giving in to your progress is important. What I mean by your progress is that people who achieved high standards in school, worked hard to be where they are, but they are not you. Therefore, work hard and take “YOUR” steps and not anyone else’s.

THE BOTTOM LINE: No matter what, there will be people who are better, faster, stronger, or better than you in every aspect, but don’t compare yourself to them. Chart your own course.

124

Get a Job ASAP

THE TIP: Working is the best way to develop discipline and prepare yourself for a future.

THE STORY: When I was a freshman one of the first things I did was get a job. I had been working since I was 14 but got a real job once I got my working papers at 15. Working taught me the art of not procrastinating and discipline. This discipline transferred to the classroom where I began to not procrastinate and get things done on time, just like at work.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Know that to be successful, you must be comfortable being uncomfortable.

125 What Do I Want to Do?

126

Live in the Moment

THE TIP: Introduce yourself to Mr. Cassidy, the Careers Advisor.

THE STORY: I came into La Salle having a pretty good idea knowing what I wanted to be when I grew up. My whole freshman and sophomore years I was dead set on going to college for business and then from there going into investments. Junior year I went to Mr. Cassidy like some do to go set up a job internship at a local investment firm. Going to the internship made me realize that the job wasn’t for me. Had I not done this I would have gone into college still wanting to become an investor. So go to Mr. Cassidy as soon as you can and tell him your career goals.

THE BOTTOM LINE: If you have a clear idea of where you want to end up after college, or no idea at all, going to Mr. Cassidy will be equally beneficial.

THE TIP: The La Salle experience is something that you’ll never forget. Don’t let it pass by.

THE STORY: While adults will always say that you must cherish your time here, I never really took that to heart up until my senior year. Even that went by fast. These four years are the last time you’ll see your childhood friends every day for the rest of your life. You may not have relationships like you do with them ever again, and after high school life will only get more stressful. These years will go by fast, so live them the best possible way.

THE BOTTOM LINE: These four years will be the best of your life, cherish them.

Don’t Feel Like You Must Fit in with Your Friends’ Friends.

Don’t Waste It

THE TIP: It is alright to have different friends than your close friends because by trying to fit in with your close friends, you may fake who you truly are.

THE STORY: I found myself freshman through the middle of junior year trying to become buddies with my friend’s friends and ultimately it made me realize that I wasn’t being myself. Sometimes it works out where you and your friends have similar personalities and therefore have mutual friends, but don’t be afraid to expand your horizons from previous friends you may already have and go meet new people.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Be yourself. Don’t force your way into a friend group if you sacrifice being you.

THE TIP: Get involved in your La Salle years.

THE STORY: Throughout my entire La Salle career I’ve always been afraid to put myself out there and get involved with the community. I’ve gotten less apprehensive however I never broke out of that shell. As a freshman, even if it’s scary, you must put yourself out there. Meet new people, join a bunch of clubs, whatever. Don’t waste what’s one of the most important social years of high school.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Don’t be stupid by being a dud.

A FINAL WORD

La Salle College High School, founded on the philosophy of Saint John Baptist de La Salle, is an extraordinary place with a mission to educate young men of varied backgrounds. High academic standards, championship athletic teams, a premier performing arts program, and the opportunity to become involved in many other extracurricular activities are what attracts students to the school. More important than any of the programs or state of the art facilities, is the culture and atmosphere of the La Salle community. We are a family here. Students, faculty, and administration do not always see eye to eye, but our care and concern, as well as respect for one another are always evident.

When a young man applies to attend La Salle College High School he is applying not just to an academic institution, he also applies for membership in a special community that is rooted in 350 years of rich heritage and tradition. A boy becomes a man in his high school years. At La Salle he becomes a gentleman, a Man of Intellect and Accomplishment, Faith and Compassion, Service and Justice, and a Man of Integrity and Respect. A La Salle man is a man of Character. That takes work. The students here work hard to earn those titles. Our men are known for the brotherhood and respect they display, the community service they do on a daily basis, as well as the honor and character they possess. The students earn this reputation.

The maturation from boy to man happens during a student’s time at La Salle. Instilling the values mentioned above is not an easy task and it does not happen in isolation. It is the result of hard work by parents/guardians, members of the extended family and the La Salle community. Most importantly there needs to be “buy-in” from a young man, a willing soul, and desire to be someone that will make a difference.

In reading the advice from upperclassmen it becomes evident that they “get it.” What they get is the nature of the community. This is not a place where students try to get away with things or push the limits. There is an atmosphere of mutual respect and cooperation. The policies and procedures are in place for good reason. Rules are not arbitrary or unfair. Their purpose is to maintain order and efficiency. At La Salle, the students have a voice. They are empowered here. Anyone can have a respectful conversation with a teacher or administrator about community life. Students may ask questions or propose changes. We work together here.

Students at La Salle have many privileges and a tremendous amount of freedom. With that comes responsibility to use the privileges and freedom appropriately. As with any “gifts” in life, students are expected to act responsibly and appropriately. Not doing so can result in the loss of privileges and freedom.

Remember that you are one person. Thousands have attended this school. Your job is to get the most out of it AND to put the most into it. Honor those that have come before you by allowing this family to push you to be the best possible version of yourself.

ENTER TO LEARN LEAVE TO SERVE

“BOYS