Mile 25:
Get acquainted

As a junior in high school it was quite nerve racking.  You were getting old enough where the guidance counselors now think it is the best time to overload you with information such as the ACT, SAT, college applications, high school degree completion, etc.  It is also a time where you see that you are on the back end of enjoying your "teenage" years before adulthood.  Most kids, however, were not like me, they were excited to become seniors in high school so they could get out of the school, their family's home, go off to college and start "living."  I recognized from an early age that the more responsibility you had the more consequences that came with it.  Junior is like being the middle child in your family, you are important but you are forgotten about more or less.  
What did you think about what Sal said?  Was he right? Was he wrong? Let's proceed to the next mile and discuss it!

Mile 26:
dig deeper

cherish it

As a junior it is a great time! You are now considered an upperclassmen! But Sal had some great pointers that I will echo in a different direction: 

1. You are not all that just yet: 
What do you think Sal means by saying Juniors are not "all that"?

I will agree with Sal, you guys are not "all that" and here is why.  Every year your high school will see a new set of juniors year after year long after you have graduated.  Eventually no one will remember who you are.  Even if you set all these unbelievable records in a sport, or win a nobel piece prize in your junior.  Eventually, as time passes no one will remember you.  In other words, stay humble my friends!

2. Study Study Study:
Do you think the advice Sal gives  about what "Junior Year is probably the hardest time of high school" will be correct?  What do you think?

As you will start to see, this year is when you are bombarded with ACT and SAT prep, the constant questions from your guidance counselors about "what are you plans looking like for colleges."  Although I am not saying those are not important questions because they are.  What I am saying is, lets walk into those questions with either a blue print of what you think you want to do.  Or questions about what undergrad degrees would fit what you want to do at the schools you are interested in.

3. Choose Your Friends Wisely:
I want you to think of your best friends right now (let's go with top 5) are those friends positive influences on your behavior? Do they help make you a better person to other people? Why or why not? 

We won't spend a lot of time on this one.  I will refer back to the LearnU Module step: Environment.  Remember "You are where you are because of who you are."  That includes who you hang out with.  I think we have all heard that ridiculous phrase by our parents or guardians "If _______ jumped off a bridge are you going to do it too??"  Although that is a terrible way to make the point, your parents or guardians are correct however.  Who you hang out with, believe or not, influences the way you think and the actions behind those thoughts.  So I echo what Sal said "Choose your friends wisely" 

4. Enjoy It As Much As You Can: 
How do you think you will enjoy each and every day of your Junior Year? What are some ways you could enjoy these memories?

Sal made a lot of great points with this point.  As your junior year days will start to dwindle you will see most of your classmates excited to be a senior so they can graduate and leave.  Now I will tell you all of my friends that were the excited ones, are the ones that wish they could have high school back.  Sal also talks about joining clubs and participating in athletics and I agree with him, be as active as you can in whatever it is you want.  Many high schools allow students to start a club (if it is not offered) as long as they have a teacher sponsoring it.  

Believe in yourself 

As a junior you are one year older, one year closer to becoming who you are starting to want to become.  But you cannot wish you will become this or that, but instead I challenge you to start telling yourself you will become what you want to become.  Listen to your video about being great!
Jaret Grossman, Eric Thomas: Believe in Yourself (4:09)
After watching this video did it get you thinking? Let's you get in you more involved! Let's walk the next mile!

mile 27:
get involved
Watch how these high school students got themselves involved in creating a project that is one for the ages!
McKinney Boyd High School Living Roof Team: Leaving a Legacy on  New Level (10:06)
After you have watched the video let's start making your own legacy! Let's move down to the next mile!

mile 28:
TASK

I want you to speak with your mentor (good time to catch up) and I want you to ask them the following questions:

1. How do I involved in a project in school or in the community?

2. How can I find that information on my own?

3. What would you suggest that I do to become the best junior I can be?

Once they have answered those questions I want you to answer the following by yourself:
1. How can you be the best junior in high school you can be?

2. How can you be a leader in your home, school, team, etc.?

Good Luck!

proceed to the next mile!