As the oldest person in my family, I didn’t have anyone to give me advice or tips going into high school, leaving me to figure it all out on my own. If that’s something you can relate to, or if you’ve found yourself struggling to make it through your freshman or sophomore year, look no further. As your resident “big sister”, I’m going to share with you some of the tips that helped me survive and thrive the past four years.
1. Push Yourself
Take harder classes your freshman year and get as many college credits as you can early on. By the time senior year rolls around, you’re probably going to be burnt out and won’t want to take hard classes. It’s always nice to have as many college credits under your belt as you can.
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2. Future, Now
I know it’s scary, but you need to start thinking about your future now. Don’t put it off until the last minute. This will help guide you as you choose your classes. If you have at least some colleges on your college list by junior year to have your ACT and AP scores sent to, you won’t have to spend money to send them later.
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3. People are Everything
You need to understand that people change. There is a good chance the people you meet freshman year won’t be your friends when you’re a senior. Some might stay your best friends; some you might not talk to again. Know that both you and your friends are going to undergo some serious changes on a physical, intellectual and emotional level. Sometimes, that causes people to drift apart. This is absolutely fine. Don’t force yourself to change or feel uncomfortable just because you feel obligated to be someone’s friend. Let yourself drift away for a time. You might reconnect later or you might meet new friends that are better for you.
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4. Organization is Key
Figure out how you like to organize your stuff. My biggest tip is to keep your study/work space clean. As your classes get harder, you will need to make real efforts to keep your studying space and backpack clean. In my experience, a messy space equates to a messy brain, so keep your space clean and figure out how you like to organize everything. Personally, I liked having separate "A" day and "B" day folders, but I know other people who like binders or other organizational methods.
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5. Have Fun (But Not Too Much)
Don’t be a bum, life’s too short. Go to all the events, I promise you aren’t too cool to go. Bring your friends and have fun. When you remember your high school years, you’re going to enjoy looking back on pictures and reliving memories from these events with your peers. That being said… don’t have too much fun. Don’t screw yourself over by getting in trouble with admin or your teachers. Building good relationships with them will not only make your classroom experience better but will also help you later on when you need letters of recommendation.
Photo Credit: Adobe Express
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