Every time someone says the word “school” I want to crawl into a hole and never come out. We can all spend our last weeks of summer taking aesthetic pictures of our vacations, or indulging in acai bowls, or whatever, but we also need to get back to the school grind. A lot of my rising freshmen friends have been asking me what high school is like: is it hard, what school supplies do I need, yada yada yada. I’ve composed a few tips for them, and a few for the rest of us who have already experienced it and just need a mood lightener.

Manage your time well. This phrase sounds a ton better than “don’t procrastinate,” no? High school teachers usually make the assignment due a few days after it is assigned. Spend ten to fifteen minutes each night doing a little piece of it, and DO NOT wait until the night before, or worse, the period before it’s due. By then you’ll be scrambling around and stressing out, and you probably did not put in much effort into it. Save your mental health and your grades. Netflix can wait, but due dates cannot.

Be open to new clubs, sports, and activities. High school is a time to find your niche. But to find your niche, you must first explore what your school has to offer. In the first week, there is usually a club fair where the board members of each club have a poster displaying what their organization is all about. Sign up for all the ones you find interesting. As the school year goes on, you can choose which ones capture your interests best and be committed to those few clubs.

Surround yourself with the right people. In the beginning of freshmen year, I was overwhelmed by how many new faces I saw. I was still overwhelmed by how many new faces I saw every day. With so many kids of different hobbies and interests, you’re bound to make some great, long lasting relationships. Immerse yourself with people who support you and actually listen to what you have say. These are the friends that will help you get through stressful times of high school. These are also the friends who will make your high school years memorable!

Do not hesitate to ask questions. A lot of kids, including myself, don’t participate as much as we should because we’re afraid to be wrong. Truth is, no one actually cares except yourself. If you’ve got a question, raise your hand immediately! You’re better off asking a question now than letting that question come up on a test. Also, if you ask questions in class, the teachers will see that you’re being attentive. They’ll take note of that. Teachers like students who are paying attention.

Challenge yourself and do your best. This is pretty self-explanatory. If you think you can go the extra mile, go for it. Throw in some risk takers in your essays. Proofread them. Check over your math tests. Practice extra problems. Teachers know which students are putting in effort and which are not. If you try your best in your high school years, your efforts will certainly lead you to a bright future.

But don’t kill yourself. Remember that you are human. We all make mistakes. We all have our L’s. But what makes us human is how we deal and learn from our mistakes. Do not hound yourself the one F you got in a class, you can always work your grade back up. Even though you should always challenge yourself, you should also know your limits. High school isn’t all about the schoolwork and grades. You also need to take breaks, wind down, and recharge.

Forge your own path. Sometimes you want to take the same classes your friends are taking, but you may not necessarily enjoy them. Remember that high school is a time of exploration and discovery for your interests, so take classes and join clubs that YOU are interested in. You’ll meet new people with your interests and see your old friends at lunch, if that makes you feel better.

Hopefully these tips will give you a better insight of high school. Good luck to y’all in the new school year!

Katie