Building a Personal Brand in High School

In today’s digital age, building a brand is no longer reserved for marketers, entrepreneurs, and influencers. Individuals can also benefit from creating a personal brand to showcase their unique talents, values, and aspirations. If you’re a high school student, a strong personal brand can open doors to scholarships, internships, and leadership opportunities while also setting you apart when applying to colleges. It is a great way to build confidence and help you better understand yourself.

1. Define your personal brand.

Everyone has their own personal brand. Whether you create it for yourself or not, it represents who you are—both online and offline. Taking charge of your personal brand can help you influence what people think and feel about you. It all starts with self-awareness. Ask yourself:

• What are my passions and interests?
• What skills or talents do I have?
• What values are important to me?
• How do I want others to perceive me?

Record your answers and look for patterns. Whether you’re an aspiring artist, a math or science enthusiast, or a community leader, identifying your niche is the foundation of your brand. Decide what you want to be known for and the steps you’ll need to take to establish your identity. Above all else, be consistent and authentic. Your brand should represent who you are, not copy others or create a false image.

2. Set clear goals.

Think about what you want to achieve with your personal brand. Are you looking to:

• Gain recognition for your achievements?
• Build a portfolio for college applications?
• Connect with like-minded peers, mentors, or future employers?

Having clear goals will guide your efforts and keep you focused. This includes taking inventory of your current brand and determining how you want to change. What are people already saying about you? How will you showcase your identity? (Will you use social media, a blog, interviews, referrals?)

3. Create a strong resume.

Your resume is the first thing some employers, internship supervisors, and even colleges may see about you. Take the time to make it count. Make sure that it is clear and concise. It should include your educational information, jobs and internships, awards, extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and any college-level courses or programs in which you’ve participated. It should also highlight any special skills you have—such as proficiency in specific programs (e.g. Photoshop, Google Suite, Microsoft Excel, etc.)

(At Moxie, we have specialists who can help you craft a resume that will highlight your individual brand and make you stand out amongst your peers.)

4. Write a good Elevator Pitch.

An elevator pitch is a simple, yet effective way to highlight who you are in the amount of time it would take you to introduce yourself to someone in an elevator. It highlights the most important information about you and should take no more than 30 seconds to relay. Information to include would be your current school, your educational/career aspirations, and any specific goals you may have. You should practice reciting your speech with family members, friends, teachers, and mentors in order to get good feedback and make any needed tweaks.

5. Make good use of your online presence.

Your online presence plays a huge role in your personal brand. Here are some ways to make it work for you:

• Social media: Use platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter to share your projects, achievements, and thoughts on topics you care about. Keep your profiles professional and consistent with your brand.
• Portfolio website: Create a simple website to showcase your work, whether it’s art, writing, coding projects, or community service. Platforms like Wix or WordPress make it easy to set up.
• Privacy settings: Clean up your existing social media accounts by removing inappropriate content and adjusting privacy settings.

6. Showcase your skills and achievements.

Highlight your accomplishments and document your journey. For example:

• If you’re passionate about science, post about experiments you’ve conducted or competitions you’ve entered.
• If you’re a writer, consider starting a blog or contributing articles to publications.
• If you’re an athlete, share highlights from games or training sessions.
• If you love volunteering, write about the causes you support and the impact you’ve made.
• If you have traveled to interesting places, record your experiences in a journal or blog.

7. Network, Network, Network!

Building a personal brand isn’t just about self-promotion; It’s also about connecting with others. There are many ways to do this:

• Join clubs and organizations: Participate in school clubs or community groups related to your interests.
• Engage online: Comment on posts, join relevant online forums, and connect with peers and mentors.
• Attend events: Look for workshops, conferences, or meetings where you can learn and network.

8. Never stop evolving.

Your interests and goals are bound to change some over time, and that’s OK. Remember to regularly update your profiles, portfolio, and goals to reflect your growth and new achievements.

At Moxie College Counseling, our team of professionals can assist students with a variety of branding tools—including resume building, interview preparation, and essay writing. We help students market themselves in unique ways, adding a special touch to the college application process. For more information, contact us.