How to make the most of your time at school

Everyone’s experience in school is different. Some people love it, some people hate it, and others don’t feel strongly one way or the other.

No matter how you feel about it, school can be an opportunity to try new things, discover your interests, and gain new skills and experience.

How to make the most of your time at school

Try to be open to trying new things and joining in on activities to give yourself a chance to really find what you like. Here are some places to start:

Get involved in school clubs or activities

When it comes to making the most of your time at school, one of the best things you can do is get involved in extracurricular activities. Your school most likely has some after-school activities you can get involved in, from sports, drama, language circles, or a book club. Keep an eye on notice boards to see if anything sparks your interest. The student council can also be a great way to get involved and improve the school experience for your classmates.

If there’s an activity or sport you’d like to do but your school doesn’t offer it, talk to your teachers and ask if you can set it up! The chances are there are other people in your school who would also like to do the same thing.

Look outside of school

If you find your school can’t offer any activities that interest you, try to find out what’s available in your local area. There are plenty of classes, courses, groups and youth organisations out there for you to join. Many libraries offer free events for young people, and there are plenty of youth clubs around the country that can offer a range of activities, whether that’s sport, art, political groups, book clubs, or other interests.

If there is no group or club in your area that interests you, look into creating your own.

Volunteer

Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, gain new skills, and get some experience. There are many different types of volunteering you can do depending on your interests, whether that’s working with people, animals, events, the environment, or other areas. Learn more about the benefits of volunteering and how to get involved in volunteering in Ireland. 

If you’re interested in writing, video, or creating a podcast, find out about volunteering for SpunOut.ie.

Look for a part time job

Another option open to you is looking for a part time job. This is especially great for the summer when you’re off school. A part-time job can help you to gain new skills, earn money, and get experience in the working world. There are a number of ways you can find a job  including looking online or asking around in your area. Make sure you know your work rights and your employer is treating you properly.

If you plan on working during the school year, try to make sure this does not impact your education. Talk to your employer about your responsibilities to your school work and make sure they understand that your education is most important.

Talk to someone

Sometimes, things can become too much. If you are feeling overwhelmed or unhappy at school and are finding it difficult to deal with this alone, talk to someone. If you are finding it difficult to talk to a teacher or guidance counsellor, you could try writing down how you’re feeling on a piece of paper, and leaving it with a teacher or placing it under the guidance counsellor’s door.

Feeling overwhelmed and want to talk to someone?

• Get anonymous support 24/7 with our text message support service
• Connect with a trained volunteer who will listen to you, and help you to move forward feeling better
• Free-text SPUNOUT to 50808 to begin
• Find out more about our text message support service

If you are a customer of the 48 or An Post network or cannot get through using the ‘50808’ short code please text HELLO to 086 1800 280 (standard message rates may apply). Some smaller networks do not support short codes like ‘50808’.

Need more information, advice or guidance?

We offer information, advice and guidance about the issues that matter to you. Our online Youth Information Chat service is for 16 to 25 year olds and is available Monday to Friday, 4pm to 8pm (excluding Bank Holidays).

• Chat now to a trained Youth Information Officer
• Or leave us a message and we will email you back