Let me just start off by saying that high school is nothing like "High School Musical" (to my disappointment.) But even without the singing, dancing or fun, it’s still a pretty interesting place to be in.

1. I’m not necessarily going to be the best at everything I do.

Before this year, I was able to effortlessly glide through school and other aspects of life simultaneously. Now? Let’s just say that I’m hanging on as best as I can. The idea of competition has really gotten to my head, but I have to make do with the fact that I’m not perfect. There’ll always be someone better than me, but that can be used to my advantage at the end of the day.

The people who constantly one-up you may seem annoying (and they are, trust me), but these people have pushed me to work harder than ever before. I’m glad to have them.

2. Sleep is very, very valuable.

It’s honestly strange to think that I used to think that sleep was a dumb concept that could be filled up with doing something actually "fun." Well, that idea’s completely forgotten now, and I can’t fully function without at least 12 hours of sleep (even though that rarely happens). Long gone are the days where I used to stay up until midnight doing absolutely nothing.

I either sleep extremely late, exhausted from doing a stringent amount of work, or I sleep at seven — there’s no in-between. It’s safe to say that sleep is definitely not dumb although many people think that doing work is more productive than sleeping. Here’s a quick tip: sleeping will actually help you do work better.

3. Studying is key to success.

This one’s pretty easy, but you kind of have to do study and do all your work to do well. The times I’ve winged tests or assignments, my grades hadn’t turned out to be the best. Unless you’re just naturally a genius, I’d advise you to study and complete assignments on time as well. Always pay attention and know what you’re being taught. And if it’s hard, then you definitely have no reason to slack off.

5. Food and Netflix become integral priorities.

I don’t think I ever appreciated food or Netflix that much before entering high school, but now, it’s safe to say that they’re huge de-stressors. Simply thinking about the idea of coming home after a long day of school and lying in bed while stuffing myself with food puts a smile on my face. Even taking a short break accompanied by these two essentials is rejuvenating and immediately wakes me up.

6. Don't forget about the things that are important to you.

With the new entrance into high school comes a lot confusion and inevitably slacking off. I made the mistake of doing this for the longest time, which blurred many of my earlier priorities. This can ultimately cause a downfall upon them and your personal morale, which is why you should not get fazed by the new world around you — you might end up losing friends, goals and yourself in the process.

SEE ALSO: 5 Self- Loving Pieces Of Advice To High School Students Who Always Belittle Themselves

7. Break out of your shell.

I’m a very shy person, so the idea of meeting tons of new people all at once and having to interact with them terrified me. For some reason, though, may it be the new atmosphere or just the type of people around me, I was able to start breaking out of my shell and make a few close friends. The new people I’ve met have had an incredible impact on me, and they have no idea how much they’ve affected me for the better.

To high school for teaching me so much, here’s a big thank you.