High school is...well high school. It's not that much different from middle school except now it actually serves a purpose. What you do in high school will set the standards for how you will do in college and more importantly, how you are going to get there.
As an incoming senior there are more than a few tips I wish I had known before I started high school that would have made my life easier along the way.
1. Freshman year matters
You are entering a new school with a new environment and a lot more choices than you’ve ever had before. Freshman year is the time to explore all these new classes and maybe even sports before your classes and life in general gets a lot harder.
2. Join a team
You can’t get the full high school experience without joining a team, bonding, and having a great time with everyone. Whether that be a club like Student Government or a sport like cross country, there is something for everyone.
3. Take challenging classes, but find a balance
So your school has 50 available AP classes. You can’t take them all but you can take what interests you and what you are good at. Bad idea: taking an AP class just for the college credit. Sure the credit is great and can potentially save you a lot of money, but if you don’t have a passion to take that class, chances are you aren’t going to be that engaged nor will you pass the exam with college credit anyways.
4. You are going to have to grow up eventually
As junior and senior years approach way quicker than you can ever imagine, it will be disheartening to realize you are going to need money therefore possibly a job not to mention school to worry about… But at the end of the day nothing cures you like a good dose of your friends with lots of laughter. Don’t be scared of becoming an adult but don’t become so much of an adult that you forget how to be young
5. You might not be “best friends forever” and that’s OK
High school’s not all singing and dancing with conflict being resolved by the end of the musical, it’s hard and you are going to hate it sometimes. There is a time to move on from bad relationships including your best friend whom you’ve known for what seems like your entire life. People change and moving on from a friendship doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Thank them for the memories and move on to make new ones with other people.
6. It doesn’t matter what people think of you
If you learn nothing in high school, learn this: It doesn’t matter what anyone thinks of you. Four years will be up before you know it and you won’t even have to see half these people again. Be yourself and don't let anyone bring you down.
7. You are going to fail something
It could be a literal F on your exam or your first B if you’ve never had one, but it’s okay. You can’t just breeze through high school, it’s not as easy as you think but don’t be alarmed when you fail. It’s going to happen but don’t let it get to you. Think of it as a test to see how well you can handle failure because there are plenty of failures in life that have to be overcome. So get right back up- and don’t think you still won’t have to try for it.
8. You don’t need a boyfriend
Or a girlfriend, or any relationship to make you happy. I know. It’s hard to believe, especially seeing all those couples making out in the hallway before class while you awkwardly have to push through the crowd and get to your locker. But let’s get real here for a second. How many of those relationships do you think last after high school? Probably none. Focus on learning how to be independent and don't waste your time on relationships.
9. Do something out of your comfort zone
I’m not saying you should ditch a class or anything… but I’m not telling you not to either. Honestly it doesn’t even have to be something like that. Think simple or think big but do something that makes your heart race even by just a little bit.
10. Have school spirit
You can't have the full high school experience without having some spirit. Go to a football game or a basketball game or even just go cheer on your friends at their cross country meet (I'm a bit biased). Participate in spirit weeks and assemblies, it's actually a lot of fun. Go to the homecoming and prom dances at least once. Make sure you can look back at high school and have no regrets.
11. College is closer than you think
I know maybe it’s your freshman or even sophomore year and college seems so far away. Before you know it, it’s going to be November of your senior year and college applications are due and you don’t even know where you want to go. So think about it freshman year, start planning visits and making a list sophomore year, visit colleges and apply for scholarships junior year, continue that into senior year but make a final five list, apply and wait. Trust me, it’s much easier than putting it all off until the summer before senior year and having no time to decide anything.
12. Spend all the time you can with your friends
This one is just self-explanatory… who’s going to be a part of those crazy stories you tell your grandchildren someday? Your awesome squad (yes I just used squad) that has been with you through the good times and the bad.
And most importantly,
13. Have the time of your life
People say that high school is the best four years of your life but only you make those four years worth while.
