As another school year begins, we pass by old faces and get introduced to new.
Although that most of us have been accustomed to life in high school, it is often difficult to forget just how nerve racking our first day of school as a freshman really is.
“I’m a little nervous and kind of excited, ” said Grace Kliewer.
Now I am not saying that I am a freshman expert, but as a senior, I feel I understand what you freshmen are going through.
It is a new school with new people, teachers and environment. This can be a lot to handle but that does not mean that it is impossible.
You see, the only way to survive the next four years is by starting your freshman year right.
First things first make sure that you you don’t make procrastination a habit.
Bill Gates once said to “hire a lazy person to do a difficult job because a lazy person will find an easy way to do it.”
Although that may be true, the lazy person might not be able to accomplish that job if he/she is always procrastinating.
In other words try to find an easy way to do things but don’t leave it to the last minute.
This leads me to academics. We come to school every day to learn and it is important that you figure out not only how to study but how to ask for help.
Classes are only going to get harder so whether it is using mnemonic devices, cue cards, or simply reviewing notes every night, make sure to figure out what works best for you.
Classmates are also a source of guidance. In fact, reviewing notes together and creating study groups will help. However, at the same time it is also very easy to get distracted when studying with friends so make sure to pick the right people to study with.
When confused about something, your first step should be asking your teacher. They know more about their tests and their material more than your classmates.
You need to manage your schedule and make use of your pride time or wednesdays after schools to get help.
Another thing that is very important are extracurriculars. There are tons of clubs and sports at this school which can get overwhelming.
Although it is important to join clubs to show colleges that you are a well rounded person, don’t join clubs that you are not passionate about.
Instead join sports and clubs that you want to join and have a passion for and aim for a leadership position in them. A leadership position in a club will help demonstrate both your leadership skills and your passion for that club.
Something that will definitely make your high school experience easier is being able to balance your time.
Making sure that you have enough time for sleep, extracurriculars, academics and your friends is important.
Yes sometimes you make need to prioritize one thing over the other but using a schedule and planning things ahead of time will always help.
One thing that no one really thinks about as a freshman are college applications.
While most students do think about making sure they have the right courses and extracurriculars for college, a lot of freshmans don’t look into what colleges they would like to go to.
Although it is a little early to start on your actual application, something that I advise is to get a head start on your college list.
Look into whether you want to go out of state or in state, the kind of environment you are looking for etc.
Looking at schoools will not only motivate you to get the grades and test scores to get in but it will also relieve some of the stress you may have senior year.
Lastly and probably the most importantly: have fun. High school is something that happens only once in your life.
Make sure to make the most of it. Go to football games and dances. Participate in spirit week.
Just make sure to do all that you can so that you don’t feel any regrets when looking back at it. After all, we are all truly in this together.