Freshman Year

Going into high school is nerve wracking for a lot of students. Having their environment change and being around older people can be very overwhelming. I remember my summer from eighth grade to freshman year go by so fast, but when it was time to start high school, I was prepared because of some of the things my brother had told me. These are some of the tips that he recommended and a few that I learned on the way.

1. Take electives that YOU like.

Making sure that you take classes that you really enjoy helps you want to focus on the topic you’re learning about. In the beginning they’ll always be quite boring, but when it gets started, you can learn the things that interest you.

The second thing about this is don’t take an elective just because a friend is taking it. You might really want to go into the guitar class but your friend wants to join art. Go do guitar because later you won’t have as many electives like those to choose from.

2. Join sports or clubs.

Joining sports and clubs can help you find friends that have the same interests as you. There are so many clubs that you can choose from. From art to gardening to anime to volunteer work, there are so many different options that you can find. Just ask any teacher or go up to the office to find a list of all the clubs available at your school.

When I started high school I joined a club called DECA. At the beginning I didn’t know what it was, but as I got more involved, I began to like it more and more. DECA is a international club where you compete with other kids in the club in roleplay and written completions about anything from business finance to hospitality and tourism. DECA really helped me with my ability to speak in front of others and go to places that I might have not been able to.

3. Don’t slack off.

A lot of freshman believe that they can go by this year with a breeze, but this year might be the most important besides junior year. Freshman year is the foundation for the rest of the time at high school. Starting your high school life hard is not easy to get out of and take a lot of time to make up credits and classes that you have failed.

Don’t get frightened, though. If you do the work that is given to you, there is no way that you can fail. They do that on purpose.

4. Go to football games.

To get the full high school experience, go to as many home games as you can. Games usually start as 7 and don’t end until late. Going to games gives you the opportunity to get out of the house and hang out with friends. Doing things like this shows to your parents that you're responsible enough to do other things, so it’s not only a plus on the social board but also on the parent board.

5. Brings headphones.

Lastly, make sure to bring headphones and a charger. This is no joke. There is never a time that I don’t use headphones when I’m outside of classes. Teachers are also more lenient on cell phone use in class so that is also a plus. Just be sure that you're on your phone at an appropriate time, not when they are giving instruction.

With all that being said, I hope that all you reading have a great freshman year and now that you have read this aren’t as worried to go into high school. It may seem terrifying now, but once you get the hang of things it’ll seem like you’ve always belonged.