The beginning of a new chapter in your life often means feeling excited and anxious. Starting high school is certainly not an exception to those feelings. The start of high school is a big deal because it is one of the first steps towards becoming an adult. Looking back to my first day of high school, I wish that I would have known a number of things that I know now. Knowing what I know now, if I could go back to my first day of freshman year and give myself 12 pieces of advice, I would tell myself..
1. No one really cares if you bring a packed lunch on the first day of your freshman year.
Packed lunches > school lunches.
2. You'll have your heart broken at least once, but time heals all wounds.
As Cristina Yang once said, "...he's not the sun. You are." Your relationship status does not define you. Deal with your sadness, but don't spend too much time being upset. Pick yourself back up, move on and cheer up. Your high school career is too short to spend all of your days moping over a break up.
3. It's not the end of the world if you don't have a date to the dance.
Go anyway. Get your hair and makeup done with your best friends. Pay for your own dinner. Dance like nobody's watching. Make the most of the evening. I promise that you'll still have a blast.
4. Avoid drama.
At all costs. No excuses. Avoid people who start drama, avoid being involved in drama, avoid gossiping about drama, just avoid drama, period.
5. Don't change who you truly are just to fit in.
Your true friends will love you for who you are, always remember that.
6. The group of friends that you start high school with may not be the same group of friends that you end high school with.
Your group of friends may or may not change over the course of the next four years. New friendships may form while old friendships may fade. However, true friendships will last throughout high school.
7. Try out for the sport, join the club, get involved.
Get involved in every thing that you possibly can. Learn something new, go outside your comfort zone, experiment with your interests. Make contributions to your school and your student body by being involved in student council or student government.
8. Take the time to get to know your teachers.
Having a healthy student-teacher relationship is great for seeking advice and assistance. Your teachers' purpose is not only to help you learn, but also to help you succeed overall.
9. Don't stress over the little things.
Compared to college, high school is a breeze. Sure, it can be stressful at times, but overall, high school is a blast. Everything will turn out just the way it is supposed to. In the mean time, live it up and enjoy the ride.
10. Don't procrastinate.
Start your assignments early, you'll thank yourself in the end.
11. Listen to your parents. Even if you don't agree with them, odds are, they're right.
Your parents always know who and what is best for you. Just listen to them, they've been there, they've done that.
12. Make the most of every moment.
Everyone always tells you that high school goes by in the blink of an eye. Believe me when I say that it does. Don't wish a single second of it away because before you know it, you'll be a senior wishing that you were a freshman again. Make the most of every day. Take the time to stop and live in the moment. Make memories with your friends. Have fun. Go out and do the things that you want to do. After all, you don't want to look back on your high school career and think to yourself, "I really wish I would have done that while I had the chance."
