As students approach their last four years of schooling before college, they need to prepared to lay the road for the rest of their lives. For some, high school may seem like an unexplored adventure brimming with knowledge. To others it may be like a mysterious dungeon filled with the unknown. In many cases, it's both. Here are a few ways to help you prepare for high school!

1) Be positive.

It can be terrifying going from middle school to a high school where seniors loom above you, and everything is just so unfamiliar. It's important to stay positive and to interact with others. Familiarize yourself with the school; encourage and tell yourself that you can do it. You've already gone through nine years of school, what's another four? By being emotionally positive, you'll be able to accomplish so much more in high school, and that'll definitely pay off in the future.

2) Stay on top of homework.

Unlike in middle school, you do have to do your homework in high school. Yes, high school students talk all the time about the homework they don't do and blah blah blah. And yes, many teachers don't check your homework because you're expected to do it. Your homework becomes your review and study guides in high school; they help you process what you've learned. It's vital that you stay on top of homework because you're going to have A LOT of it. If you don't do your homework, you'll end up falling behind, and the game of catch up is not fun to play.

3) Be organized.

Organization is always important, no matter what you're doing. Having a clean work space is imperative to good study habits at home. Organize your binders and folder so that if you need something, you can get it immediately. This organization will not only make your life a heck of a lot easier, but it will also help your brain organize what you've learned.

4) Establish a good routine.

Good habits should be instilled in middle school and carry onto high school. This includes sleep schedules, study habits and how you do things overall. It's best to break bad habits such as sleeping really late (with no education excuse), not studying for tests (it might've worked in middle school, but it won't in high school), and overall not caring about school. High school is vastly different than middle school because everything you do counts. Your grades and your very actions are filed away and could be used against you in the future.
Therefore, it's best to have a good routine and to settle into the high school life.

5) Don't procrastinate.

I've talked about this before, but not procrastinating is super super important. It'll ruin your high school life. If you procrastinate your homework, you'll be rushing the next morning and will lose the precious review that you get everyday. If you procrastinate studying, you'll end up doing poorly on the test. There really is no positive consequence of procrastination, so don't do it. Control your impulse to put off everything until the next morning.

6) Talk with your parents/counselor.

This one applies to mostly when choosing high school classes. Some students know what classes they want to take, while others need some time to think. Those that have a hard time choosing can talk to their parents or their middle school guidance counselor. These adults will help you get an idea of what you want to accomplish in and high school, and choose the appropriate classes to do so. In the end, it really depends on what YOU want to do.

7) Be ready for challenges.

High school is different. Very different. First of all, it's much more tougher and serious then middle school. It's the place where you grow up and become an adult, the final stop before students head out into the real world. And so, there are obviously going to be challenges. Whether it be academically or socially (or both), challenges and obstacles will block your way. You need to overcome, to surpass those that block your way. As you pass one obstacle after another, you will be one step closer to your future.