Ten Things You Should Know About High School Before You Go

Okay, so this is for those of you who have not started high school yet, and if you've already started, this is some good information for you while you're in high school. High school is not, by any means whatsoever, easy! This is the time that you need to buckle down and take control of your grades, your choice of friends, and school related activities. High school is here to get you ready for college, not to goof off. Now, I said high school is not easy, but that doesn't mean you can't make it fun at the same time. So, I've thought of some things that I learned while I was in high school, and some things that I wished I knew before I went. Here goes!

1. If you're starting at a new school, one where you don't know a single person, you will more than likely get made fun of, or picked on. A bit of advice here, if you are totally new, be aware of everything around you. Listen to what people say, how other people act, and what they look like. Sit back and just listen to your surroundings. Doing so will give you an advantage to picking your friends wisely. Don't be so eager to make a friend the day you start school, as making friends is not as important as your grades.

2. Sign up for extra curricular activities. I would make sure I signed up for at least one sport and one educational club, like the Lions Club, or the Beta Club. Well, those were my choices anyway, yours may be different. What I found that was really fun was the marching band. You get to be out every Friday night, at the football game, and during half time, all eyes are on you. Drill team is also really good exercise for you girls, and well, football for guys. If you keep yourself busy with a school related activity, you'll probably like going to school a lot better than you would if you weren't in one, and you'd have to keep your grades up to be in those activities. It gives you that sense that "your school needs you".

3. Make friends with all of your teachers! Here's why; They will love you for it! Your teachers will be more likely to help you with something you're having trouble with if you're nice to them. Don't be one of those rotten kids that picks on every teacher you have, you will just spend most of your time in the office, or in "ISS" or detention. Trust me, that's no fun. I absolutely just could not get along with my English teacher, which was the worst teacher to pick not to like, because she's the one that makes you write that essay/research paper that's required for you to graduate high school. I screwed that up, but we won't get into all that, remember this is for you, not me!

4. Take time to ask questions! The more the merrier. Do not NOT ask a question just because you'll think other students will make fun of you for not knowing, and having to ask. They might be wondering the same thing you are, and are just too scared to ask. The more you ask questions about something, even if you DO know the answer, then the more you can get interested in that subject. Tell your teacher to try to explain that subject in more detail, they will love you for it!

5. The cafeteria food sucks, period, but the ladies and men that cook it for you, are trying to feed you. So remember that they are important too. If you're eating the cafeteria food, be sure to thank them when they hand you your tray. If you start doing this everyday that you eat the school's food, they might be more generous with the amount that's on your tray when it's pizza day. Most kids take the lunch ladies for granted, and they have feelings too. So don't be rude to them for trying to cook something for you to eat for lunch, because, what would you do if there were no lunch ladies? Hmm?

6. Do your homework right when you get home from school. You will have all the rest of the day to relax and calm down before dinner, and feeling good about it since you know you have nothing else that's school related to do for the rest of the day. Yes, you will be exhausted by the time you get home from school, but your brain is still in "learn" mode from being in school all day. So doing your homework as soon as you get home is better for your brain than doing it before bed that night, and especially better than doing it right after you get up for school the next morning.

7. Be on time to your classes! Okay guys and girls, the time between classes is for getting the necessary books, paper and what not for the next class, and to use the bathroom. It's not to sit around and flirt with your guy/girl, not to pick a fight with someone, and not time to goof off in the halls. Get your stuff and go to your classroom, use the bathroom, say hi to your friends while passing them in the hallway, but don't chat too long. You have lunch time and break times to chat with your friends and flirt with your guy or girl.

8. NEVER skip school. A big no-no you guys. If you think you're too tired to go to school and need an extra day to rest, tell your parents about it. Don't slip out during school because you think you're too tired to sit through class all day. Like I said, high school isn't easy, and nobody said you wouldn't be tired as you know what. You will be tired during class, that's for sure. So if you get tired during class, tell your teacher that you are tired and that you wish not to interrupt the class by sleeping in front of everybody. If you really don't think you can stand staying awake during class, and are thinking about just cutting class to go home and sleep, then you should consider going to your nurse's office to ask if you can have a ten to fifteen minute nap instead. Most of the time they will let you do this, because if they said no and you cut class because of it and ended up in a wreck or something bad happened after you left, the school could be held responsible for not listening to the student. Be sure you get plenty of rest the night before school and eat a good breakfast!

9. People will spread rumors about you. So the best thing to do, is to ignore them. If they don't bother you, and you don't get a kick out of it, then no one else will. If the rumors lead to someone trying to beat you up, try to tell your principal. Don't stand there and try to fight back with someone that is trying to beat you up, if you can. The best thing to do is to go tell a teacher. Fighting back will only get you in more trouble, and it will show on your record later on that you were fighting with other students, whether you started it or not. Self defense has a totally different meaning than you think it does.

10. The most important rule for high school students, PAY ATTENTION. Pay attention to your teachers, follow their directions. Pay attention to your grades and the work that you're doing. Nothing else matters to you but how well you're doing in school. The more you cooperate with your teachers, the more they will want to help you with your work, and the grades you get will be better. Other students will see your grades and wonder how you do so well, and when they ask your secret, simply tell them, "Because I pay attention."

Remember guys and gals, have fun while in high school. These are the best years of your life. Take advantage of the fun your school has to offer, because it's there for you, and no one else. No matter how hard it gets, you can still have fun. Take part in learning about everything that you possibly can. These are the years you will remember the most, and will want to live in forever; for after high school is your adult life.