My advice to the uncertain high school freshman

As a rising Junior in High School, I feel that I am very qualified to lend advice to those coming into high school. In the fall of 2021, I had just navigated through two tumultuous pandemic school years, and an abridged final year of middle school. Things were very turbulent and subject to change, and I wondered how these circumstances would continue to affect my introduction to high school. I felt scared, and alone. I didn’t think any of my classmates were feeling the same way as I was. Here are some things, I wish someone had told me when I was a freshman.

It’s okay to take different classes than your peers

It can sometimes feel like a huge burden to be taking a ton of hard classes, especially when you are still trying to get a feel for high school and your place there. If your friends are taking more difficult courses than you, that does not make you inadequate or stupid, you’re supposed to be exploring what you want to do and what you can handle.

Develop relationships with your teachers and counselors

I didn't speak to my guidance counselor for my entire freshman year because I found I didn't really need her help. I didn’t need to switch into or out of any classes and so I was fine on my own. In my sophomore year, I did have to meet with her to tweak my schedule and to talk about my transcript and college. If I could go back to my freshman year, I would try to be more proactive and develop a relationship with her. Being close with or even just having an amicable relationship will help you, because your counselor will be writing your letter of recommendation for college. 

Time will fly.

This advice is incredibly cliche and you will hear it so much. But as an incoming junior, it’s so true. While you may seem eager to leave the confines of high school, know that this is the most free time in your life. There won’t be many more late night ice cream runs with friends, or Friday nights under stadium lights when your extremities are freezing over, however you frame it, high school is fleeting, There isn’t enough time, and you don’t want to have stayed in your bedroom for four years. It’s important to manage your time well enough to be able to do these things. If you want to be consistent in attending school events,  make sure that your homework and chores are done. You don’t want to have been grounded during homecoming or have a last minute project to complete. 

Make time to prioritize school and figure out your organization!

I had a tough time adjusting to the workload of high school. I already had a terrible work ethic due to the two previous years of online school, so meeting deadlines and staying on top of my work was a huge challenge at first. After the first semester, I nailed it down and knew that sometimes you have to put your head down and work. I would also reccomend figuring out the best way to stay organized as soon as you can. For me it took two years to realize that I needed a physical planner to stay on top of my deadlines. I love my planner so much, but I recognize that there are other online methods that can also work.

It’s okay to quit!

When I was a freshman I was participating in an activity that I had loved for so long and been told I was great at. I had been heavily involved all throughout middle school and I thought I would do this activity until I graduated. After doing this activity for a semester of freshman year I decided that it was to mentally taxing and I didn’t really enjoy it anymore. I felt like I was  disappointing so many people, but looking back, I’m so glad I had the strength to make that decision for myself. It’s really important to learn who you are in high school and to give yourself the opportunity to explore your passions and interests.  If quitting one activity leads to finding one that you love, I think that is worth it. What’s important is that you tried and realized something wasn't for you.

Take advantage of being friends with upperclassmen

I was really shocked when I got to high school and there were such a range of grades in my elective classes. I knew I would be with more grades but I never realized how diverse my classes would be. Making friends with upperclassmen will help you manage your expectations for your school and even help you get some recon on teachers, classes, etc. Obviously, don’t make friends with people just to help yourself, make friends with people who are similar to you. I made lots of great older friends while playing sports and involving myself in clubs.

Try to gauge your study habits

My freshman year, I tried hard to figure out what worked best for me in terms of studying. I studied with friends, alone, and in different environments. It’s really important that you figure out what works best for you now so you don’t find yourself in a pickle when you have an important test. I’ve found that studying or doing homework with others makes me feel more productive, and also listening to something that maintains my focus. If you can’t figure out how you do your best studying,  try researching different methods and trying them.

Establish a consistent routine

Establishing a routine will be so helpful to keep yourself on track. If you like to sleep in, make sure that your bag, and lunch are picked out the night before. The biggest part of my morning that wastes time is picking out outfits, so set aside time on Sunday to pick out your outfits for the week. Making your nights and mornings go smoother will subsequently help your days go better. It’s okay to have bad days, but every day is a new start, and an opportunity to have a good day. It’s also so important to know what is necessary for you to be successful. Personally, I like to go to bed early so I’m not a complete zombie and can function well. So during the school year, I have a stringent bedtime routine to ensure I am ready for bed and the next day. Know your body and what it can handle, it will help you tremendously.

Try new things

I like to think of high school as a clean slate. You can choose to leave behind old habits or not. Everyday is a new day to work towards the person you want to be! If you want to drop your toxic friend group-do it. This is a time to begin again and be who you want to be.

Stop caring about others’ perception of you

I WISH someone would have told me this. If you go through life thinking everyone is scrutinizing you, then you won’t enjoy anything about high school. There are going to be embarrassing mishaps- you can’t control if they happen, but you can control your handling. You can let one mistake or something embarrassing define you or get under your skin, or you can get over it. Embarrassment is a hard thing to eradicate, but once you realize that you are your biggest critic it will change your life. Go for something you want, if your friends don’t stand by you then they aren’t your real friends. Real friends with support what you want to do. If people care about your every move, then that’s their problem. I spent so much time worried about what people would think of me if I started a blog. Now, I regret all that time I spent pondering when I could’ve been writing this blog!

That’s all for today, to all my freshmen, it’s going to be okay! I know how scary these big changes are. Everything is going to work out and it’s important to know that you always find your place and your people.

xoxo,

Kate Violet