Ask the Acorn

I wish I had understood earlier that this is a time to explore, not to be perfect, so try things out of curiosity, join something new, help at school, or take a chance on opportunities even when you are unsure or think you might not be good at them. You learn just as much from what does not work as from what does, and mistakes only matter if you stop learning or give up. Who you spend your time with also shapes who you become, since community and shared experiences help you grow, understand what you care about, and become well rounded over time.

Here's the great news: you don’t have to spend money to get solid SAT prep.  

The best place to start is with free, official SAT practice made by the College Board – the test makers. Take a full-length practice test in the Bluebook app to see where you stand, then use My Practice, Khan Academy, and the Student Question Bank to work on the skills you need most. And if you want guided study, we now partner with Schoolhouse.world, where you can get free, small-group tutoring led by high-scoring students who know the test.

Finding the “right” career starts with exploring—not deciding everything at once. A great place to begin is BigFuture’s career quiz and career search tools, which help connect your interests and strengths to careers you might not have considered. 

Once you have a few ideas, try them out in real life. Volunteering, part-time jobs, or internships can show you what the work is actually like. For example, if BigFuture points you toward healthcare, you could volunteer at a hospital or senior center; if it suggests education, try tutoring or helping in an after-school program.