Ah, freshmen, you are no longer the top dog, but, in fact, the bottom of the food chain. Welcome to high school. This is a critical four years of your life, and freshman year is devoted to figuring the whole “high school” thing out. To tell you the truth, none of us really have everything figured out. I was in your position just a year ago, and I have definitely learned so much. If I would’ve known half the stuff I do now, my transition from middle school would’ve been much smoother. But what’s high school without your awkward freshman year? You’ll figure it out, I promise. As of now, you may not know exactly what to expect, but let me help you out with some tips on how to survive freshman year.
Step out of your comfort zone
In middle school, you got in a comfort zone, but I encourage you to go beyond what you’re used to. Be friendly to everyone, even if they aren’t someone you would usually talk to. Friends will come and go, and you never know exactly who you will end up with. Simply having a conversation with someone can open up a lot.
Be you
You’re always told that in order to enjoy high school you have to fit in. Well, let me tell you that is a big, fat lie. High school is all about figuring out who you are and you can’t do that if you’re constantly trying to impress everyone else. Not every person in the school is going to like you, so you should focus on pleasing the one person that truly does matter–yourself.
Get involved
This may be the first time you hear this, but definitely not the last. Get involved with as much as you can. Even if you aren’t athletic, get involved with clubs and find something you’re interested in. Activities allow you to meet new people and discover what you really like to do. Being involved makes you more invested in the school and really enhances your high school experience.
So much to do, so little time
Your time in high school will be divided between school work, activities, a social life and sleep. The two words “time management” will becoming a daily struggle, so it’s important that you get in good habits early. You will get pretty busy, so you’ll have to figure out how to balance everything. Find out a good schedule that works for you and stick to it.
Too cool for school
Alas, your days of blowing off assignments with no consequences are gone. First semester freshman year can be a rude awakening for some. Soon you will find yourself checking StudentVue daily to get a grade update in each class. GPA are three simple letters that will determine your college future. So, reflect your work effort now on what your desire is for college.
