Tips For High School Freshmen

Surviving high school is not easy, freshmen. I'll tell you that much. Just last year you were at the top of your junior high class. You were examples for all the preteens, who looked up to you while wishing that they were glorious eighth-graders, too. You graduated and donned scaled down caps and gowns, shook hands with your principal, and received pieces of papers that reassure everyone that you rightfully passed sixth, seventh, and eight grade. Your mother probably cried. Your father probably patted you on the back. Maybe you went out to eat some ice cream after mom fixed her make-up and your dad said hello to your best friend's father. The day could probably be relived by way of your grandmother's scrapbook.

Reality is that was last spring. Over the summer you felt free. You were out of school chillin' with your friends without books cradled in your arms. You felt like hot stuff because you got your first job at a McDonald's. You even went to vacation somewhere to see some of your family you'd neglected to contact in a while.

But as those two months you swore would last forever dwindle down to a couple weeks, and you receive that letter in the mail, you know it's for real.

You are going to high school! You are starting a brand new chapter of your life! So, before Labor Day hits, I need to clue you in on a few things.

First of all, high school is nothing like junior high. The books are heavier, the halls are longer, and the teachers are older. Some things never change, like the one teacher every school has that was meant to be a counselor, the one custodian who turns his head when he sees students smoking, and the one PE teacher who does not care if you do not get dressed for class. Sure, those things will always be the same in public schools, but I am telling you that in high school there will be seniors constantly reminding other students that they are the top of the class (don't worry...your time will come) and their will be name-calling, and status raters, and popular groups, and geeks and lots and lots of cliques.

Haven't you heard the saying? High school is a popularity contest. Whoever first said that was right on the money. Everybody is worried about what other people think of them and what they will where and if so-and-so was talking about them. It's hard to ignore it, but I've found that when you do, you do not have anything to worry about. If you do not get involved in all that mess, and that is all it is, then you can glide through your first year and quite possibly your high school career. Sure, it will be hard. I know that! I have already done it! Too many people these days don't just let things roll off their backs: they feel the need to add fuel to the fire and keep it going.

Find the courage to face this upcoming year head on. Your high school years will only be as good as you make them. If you are popular, and you feel as though nothing could possibly go wrong, you had better remember not to mess with your peers. (Karma is a b[lessing].) And if you are not that popular, and you let what other people think of you dictate how you will act everyday, you will not be able to be happy...And even though high school something almost every freshman dreads, you have to remember to be happy and think positive! Good luck!