97 Things to Do Before You Finish High School

by Erika Stalder

  Co-op Your pet

  If you're jonesing for some puppy love but are worried your schedule won't allow you to keep up with Fido's needs, ask a family member to join you in taking ownership of a new dog. Sure, you might have to compromise on which breed to get and what to name it, but snagging an accomplice will cut dog-walking duties in half and give you more freedom to hang with friends after school.

  81 Take Care of a Houseplant

  WWant to take care of a living thing, but not one that barks all night, pees on your homework, or requires a toilet-flushing funeral? A friendly houseplant will spruce up your stuffy bedroom with verdant color and leafy ambiance. By taking in carbon dioxide and giving off oxygen, indoor plants clean your environment while lending jungle chic to your desktops and nightstands. Name your plant and develop a relationship with it — and watch as your new friend thrives under your care.

  Cocktails With Your Cactus?

  In his 1848 book The Soul-Life of Plants, German physicist and philosopher Gustav Theodor Fechner promoted the idea of talking to plants to aid their growth, believing that greenery responds to emotion. While this theory has never been proven, there's certainly no harm in yakking to your Fishtail Palm about last week's episode of Saturday Night Live.

  How to Do It

  First, pick a plant. Ficus trees, lithops, begonias, African violots, coleus, pothos, ferns, parlor maples, and bamboo all tend to grow well indoors, and you don't need much of a green thumb to keep them healthy and happy. Plants from the succulent family, including the soothing cure-all aloe vera and exotic cacti, are a breeze to nurture (they don't need much water), but their sharp tips can be a pain in the butt — or, more likely, finger. Intensely colored bromeliads require just the right amount of water and light but are well worth the effort — they'll transform your bedroom into a tropical paradise. Ask a horticulturist (also known as the plant store person) for the right sort of potting soil and food. And be sure to find out how much or little light and water your weeping fig or Chinese evergreen needs, as under- or over-watering is the chief cause of premature demise.

  82 Get a Driver's License

  After years of suffering the humiliation of having a parent or older sibling drive you, your friends, and maybe even your date (ouch!) around in a rusty old station wagon, you're probably gunning to get a driver's license. There's nothing quite like putting the pedal to the metal — even if the “metal” is the floor of your mom's rickety Dodge Caravan. Getting your license and driving on your own? Now that's freedom, baby! But as Peter Parker would remind you, “With great power comes great responsibility.” When you're behind the wheel, you're responsible for the lives of everyone in the car and on the road (even the losers who cut you off). As long as you follow the rules of the road and don't abuse the privilege, driving will take you into your future with style, speed, and hopefully a minimum of breakdowns and flat tires.

  How to Do It

  Rules and regulations differ from state to state, but in general it's best to start by taking a driver's education course, either at school, or at a private training center. You'll learn the ins and outs of the wide open road (and those narrow city streets) and get to go behind the wheel with an approved trainer who generally has a second brake on the right side (to prevent you from totaling the crappy little Ford Escort you're practicing with). While learning, it's best to start in a big, empty parking lot, gingerly working up to roads, main boulevards, and, when you're ready, multi-lane highways. When you take your driving test at the DMV, don't be bummed out if you fail the first or second time — it's really common. This is one test you absolutely want to ace, so just keep studying and practicing until you're completely comfortable whipping through traffic and cutting those three-point turns.

  That Super-Important Life-Altering Phone Call Can Wait

  Car accidents are terrible and traumatizing, even when they are small, and often they aren't. Don't jeopardize your safety — and the safety of others — just because you had to share a new pic from your camera phone with your best friend. Turn off your cell phone before you even start the engine, so you won't be distracted from making a tricky left turn when your Gwen Stefani ringtone suddenly starts singing “Crash.”

  83 Learn Basic Car Maintenance

  Whether you've recently gotten your license or prefer to ride shotgun while a friend does the driving, so that you can play DJ, it's crucial that you learn the basics of car maintenance. Changing a tire isn't as tough as it looks, and checking tire pressure, oil, windshield wiper fluid, and brake fluid levels is as easy as pumping gas (if you don't know how to do that, you better learn fast). You don't have to be a full-on grease monkey or scooch under the chassis to check out your auto's innards, but you'll keep the car, and yourself, in better shape once you master the basics. Being prepared on the road instills confidence and security — and prevents you from having to thumb it back to town.

  How to Do It

  Ask a friend or family member who knows something about cars to give you a 101 on what's happening under the hood. It's best to go to someone who can teach you what to do without being condescending. You'll want to identify:

  the battery: a big black box with two knobs — red and black — protruding from the top

  the engine: usually the biggest hunk of metal under the hood

  the oil tank: the reservoir with a dipstick, usually marked “oil”— be careful, some cars have a separate dipstick to check transmission fluid

  the coolant: the atomic-green colored stuff

  the main fuse relay box: a black box under the hood, usually marked as such

  Play connect the dots and ask your car-friendly tutor to explain how the hunk of junk gets going when you turn the key in the ignition and tap the gas pedal. Also get some quick tips on how to check the oil and other fluids (some should be checked after the engine has warmed up, while others — like the oil — should be checked when the engine is cool), adjust the tire pressure, and jump-start a battery with cables. Next, be sure to outfit the trunk with a spare tire, a tire jack, a quart or two of oil, a gas can, jumper cables, and emergency flares.

  Don't forget a rag to

  wipe the oil dipstick, and a tire gauge to check the pressure.

  Run Smoothly

  Take your high school hot rod (or ’95 hooptie) into a mechanic every three months or 3,000 miles (whichever comes first) for a routine oil change. This takes only a few minutes (unless there is a wait) and can be done at your regular mechanic or at a special quick-lube type of place.

  84 Assemble a Toolbox

  Handy with a hammer? Or screwy with a screwdriver? Whether you're a fix-it pro or kinda clueless when it comes to household repairs, it's a good idea to outfit a toolbox with a dozen or so essential items and learn how to use them all. There's probably someone in your life right now on whom you always depend to fix stuff. Learning how to do it yourself creates less reliance on an outside party, which means you can get things done when and how you want them.

  Keep ’Em Clean

  Keep tools clean and dry because dirt and water will rust them. Machine oil is an effective cleaner, and steel wool will polish them up like new. Add a can of WD-40 to your kit, and give all the tools a thorough going-over every few times you use them.

  How to Do It

  Head to a nearby hardware store and peruse the goods, familiarizing yourself with different kinds of tools. Ask for assistance if you're not sure what certain tools are for. A basic toolkit should contain:

  hammer

  pliers

  wrench

  large and small screwdrivers (both standard and Phillips head)

  cordless drill with a set of bits

  utility knife

  level

  assorted nails and screws

  tape measure

  gloves

  safety goggles

  flashlight

  These should get you started on tasks such as hanging a picture frame, cutting speaker wire, and assembling I
kea-type furniture. As your skills advance, add specialty items to the toolbox. If you have enough cash, pay a bit more for better-quality tools — they'll last for decades.

  85 Learn Basic Clothes Maintenance

  If you haven't already, it's time to discover what happens to your clothes between the time they get tossed into the hamper (if they make it that far) and land freshly washed and neatly folded on your bed. Sadly, there's no laundry law stating that Mom, Dad, or the housekeeper should clean your stinky, mysteriously stained clothes for eternity. If you're already washing your clothes, pat yourself on your fresh-smelling back. If not, “laundry” doesn't have to be a dirty word. Just gather up your faded jeans, favorite hoodie, and funky socks, and get the spin cycle going. While you're at it, learn some other aspects of basic clothes maintenance, too, like ironing, sewing buttons, and hemming pants or skirts. Doing your own laundry comes with more benefits than just parental approval; it prevents other people from shrinking your favorite T-shirt down to Barbie doll size, going through your pockets, or mistakenly bleaching your dark-blue denims until they're no longer dark … or blue.

  How to Do It

  Separate your whites and colors. Wash whites in hot water, which is best for getting out gross stains; wash colors in cold, so they won't fade or run. If you spilled salad dressing on your favorite jeans or cut yourself shaving and got blood on your collar, you may need to use some stain remover. (Let the stain remover soak in for a bit before washing.) If you don't want certain clothing items to fade or shrink, you're better off hang-drying them than tossing them into the dryer. Delicate items such as wool sweaters, lingerie, and linen pants should be washed separately on a delicate cycle or, better yet, by hand in the sink, and laid flat to dry. Check the lids of the washing machine and dryer for cycle, time, and temperature instructions. Fold your clothes as soon as they're dry or they may end up looking like you've slept in them. Some items will need to be ironed anyway — ask your in-house laundry master for a tutorial or see the below tip for a shortcut.

  Use Eco-Friendly Detergent

  While most traditional detergents are high in chemicals that can irritate skin and eyes, eco-friendly detergents are generally made with biodegradable, nonpetroleum-based chemicals that cause fewer allergies. Also, because eco-friendly laundry suds are nontoxic, you can re-use the water you washed your clothes in to safely water your lawn.

  Steam Press on the Go

  Don't have time to iron? Take your wrinkled clothes with you into the bathroom when you shower. Hang them on the back of the door or lay them on a flat surface. Then shower with the door closed. The hot steam produced from the shower will take the wrinkles (at least most of them) out of your clothes.

  86 Learn CPR

  The heart is a resilient muscle built to withstand crushing breakups, fatty foods, and cheesy Valentine's Day cards. But sometimes, when pushed to the max, it says, “Enough!” When someone's heart quits, it can be fatal. Many times, however, you can help save a person who is undergoing cardiac arrest (the medical term for a heart attack) by performing cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, also known as CPR.

  Make a Splash

  CPR can also be used to save the life of a drowning victim (once they are out of the water). If you've mastered CPR and are also an experienced swimmer who loves hanging out at the beach or community swimming pool, consider becoming a lifeguard. The American Red Cross and local safety organizations train lifeguards. You have to be at least 15 years old and devote 30 to 40 hours to learning rescue skills. What a cool job — you get to save lives and hang out on the beach or at the pool all summer.

  How to Do It

  CPR training is available free of charge at professional, volunteer, and government organizations in nearly every city, and you can also pay to take a course. Check out http://depts.washington.edu/learncpr/ and www.redcross.org to find out where classes are held. In your three-hour course, you'll learn how to quickly assess a victim's condition and apply these life-saving procedures, which consist of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation (breathing air into the victim's lungs) and performing chest compressions. The point of mouth-to-mouth (you'll practice on a mannequin, so no need to worry about the garlic you ate for lunch) is to keep oxygen flowing into the blood via the lungs; the chest compressions are intended to keep the blood flowing, especially to the brain. Remember, however, that CPR is only a first step; it is used to buy some time before a medical professional arrives to restore the victim's heartbeat, usually by using an automated external defibrillator. That means it is absolutely essential to call 911 as soon as the incident occurs. Then practice CPR while you wait for help.

  87 Be Prepared for an Emergency

  From earthquakes on the West Coast to hurricanes in the South to tornadoes in the Midwest, nature loves to humble us with mega disasters that are freaky to think about and even worse to go through. It's impossible to predict if and when you might be caught up in a natural catastrophe — but it's possible to lessen the impact by being prepared. Rather than stress out all the time about the unknown, take a single day to organize essential provisions and learn some simple procedures around the house. Then do your best to let go of the worry. You'll be as prepared as you can be should a major situation arise.

  How to Do It

  To be prepared, take the following practice.

  Gather with your family and go through the house together, making sure that everyone knows how to turn off the gas, switch on circuit breakers, and change fuses.

  Store extra fuses in a utility drawer or cabinet, along with lightbulbs, flashlights, batteries, candles, and matches.

  Program numbers for the police, fire department, paramedics, and family doctors into everyone's cell phones.

  Know the location of the nearest emergency room — you might need to take a loved one there for treatment.

  Buy a first-aid kit, or put together your own with items bought at a drug store. Include bandages, antibiotic ointment, aspirin, bottled water, and medications taken by anyone in the family. Keep the first-aid kit with your emergency supplies.

  Make sure you have plenty of bottled water on hand in case the tap water supply is tainted, and stock up on nonperishable food that doesn't have to be heated (pineapple chunks, peanut butter, baked beans) and a sturdy can opener, so you'll have plenty to eat if cooking with gas or fire isn't possible. Don't forget food for your pets.

  Assemble a “grab and go” backpack that includes extra clothes, some food, and emergency items (like those listed above) that you can grab and take with you in a hurry.

  Be a NERT

  That's NERT, not nerd. NERT (Neighborhood Emergency Response Team) is a nationwide training program that teaches you how to handle various crisis situations, from house fires to earthquakes. Find out more online by entering your city name and “NERT” into any search engine.

  NINE: Because You're Only Young Once

  88 Try a New Hairstyle

  Creative coiffing is not just for those gel-happy neo-punks or bed-headed glamazons who change their hair color every Thursday (you know who you are). If you've had the same cut for ages, you're probably so used to your old style that you don't realize it's gone from hairdo to hair don't. Buzzcuts and chronic ponytails are like a disease that needs to be cured. Why not try something new? Experiment with different styles, cuts, colors, and products. What's the worst that can happen? Well … try not to worry about that. Entrust your tresses to an adventurous expert at the barber- shop or beauty salon. And if things go awry, just keep repeating: It'll grow back, it'll grow back. And maybe invest in a hat.

  Hair to Dye For

  Planning to dye your mop bright pink or aquamarine? Use only the best products that won't damage your hair. And if your school or employer has a dress code, make sure they're OK with radical colors and cuts before you do anything drastic. As for what your parents will say … well, you're on your own with that one.

  How to Do It

  Browse through magazines and surf the web in searc
h of trendy styles or classic cuts that look appealing and easy to maintain. Celebs constantly show off new looks — study what works well on them and adapt their designer looks to fit your own style and budget. Discuss various options with your barber or stylist that are totally different from your current cut. Do you hide behind your hair? Then cut those eye-obscuring bangs. Do you spend hours taming your unruly locks with relaxers and a straightening iron? Tone down the upkeep by going au naturel, growing dreads, or getting braids. Guys who are way overdue for a haircut should take a chance on a messy faux hawk. For those with tight, curly locks, go for volume instead of length and kink it into a ’fro. Or channel Snoop Dogg or Bo Derek with a tight head of cornrows. And then, in a few months, change it up again.

  89 Confess a Crush

  You've been staring at your latest love from across the school cafeteria at lunch for weeks or even months, trying to work up the nerve to make your move but always coming up with great reasons why today is not the day. Then when he or she walks by, your stomach flip-flops, you turn beet red, and start to sweat. A moment later, you're kicking yourself for not trying to squeak out a simple “hi.” Crushes are like too much candy — they make you feel hyper and giddy and then sort of sick and exhausted from the sugar crash. The only way to get over these symptoms is with a confession. You'll never know how he or she feels until you declare your undying love (or temporary like). So muster every ounce of self-esteem you've got and get ready to approach the object of your affection.