As creators of your your school publication, my fellow ECHO staff members and I have taken it upon ourselves to offer you helpful recommendations (or “r-ECHO-mendations” if you will) to guide you not only through high school but also the big, bad, cold world.

Jake Miller, Editor-in-Chief:

Plan weekly lunches. Every week I make a mix of rice, vegetables, and chicken—and it’s fire. Then when you get to school you can eat food that isn’t 80% rubbery (no shade to the Beaver Area cafeteria, just facts).

Chelsea Homan, Editor-in-Chief:

Do the CCBC college-in-high-school program. It will help you get a leg up on the competition if you’re interested in attending college after high school.

Sarah Causey, Feature Editor:

Bert’s Bees lip balm—it slaps. If you use anything else you’re a scrub (not really, but you should get new lip balm).

Elise Bingle, Sports Editor:

Do everything! Participate in as much as you can in high school; not only just to get the experience but also many events are put on by students, so attend them to support your fellow classmates.

Max Furman, News Editor:

The longer a dog is, the meaner it is. (I don’t really know what this means, but he insisted it be included.)

Nate McBride, Feature Editor:

Don’t wait until the last minute to write an essay. (Nate procrastinated in writing his A.P. Euro essay at the time of compiling this advice column and it did not work out well for him.) Make a plan to ensure your essay is complete on time and not garbage because you wrote it the night before.

Meghan Malloy, Senior Reporter:

The school gives you two excused days a year to visit colleges, so you should take advantage of them! Visiting a college is the best way to see if you would fit in at a school.

Sammy Kissick, Junior Editor:

Get a job. There are many part time jobs in the area that are a great way for students to start earning money. If you want to be the one flexing that Burberry headband you better fill out some application ASAP (it is also important to point out that you should try your best not to get fired after getting that job).