Freshmen Advice To The Incoming High School Freshmen
Start writing a post
Student Life

Freshmen Advice To The Incoming High School Freshmen

No, you're not going to get stuffed into a locker on the first day of school, and NO, "Freshman Friday" is NOT a real thing.

39
High School is fun!!
Credit: Instagram @treatyoshelves17

Dear Scared Incoming High School Freshman,

Wow. Freshman Year. I can hardly remember what it's like to be in your shoes right now, bright eyed, bubbly, and so eager to begin a fresh start, about to enter the highest degree of education before leaving your home town- high school!

As long ago as my freshman year was,, what I can still can recollect is the feeling of joy and excitement I felt at entering a new scene- I had the ability to start fresh after middle school. (Literal Hell! I think middle school was pretty rough for us all...) I was free to become the girl I've always wanted to be. New classes, new friends, new halls, new sports. High School is just such an exciting time period. Let me cut to the chase though, because this isn't a reminiscence fest for me. What I am here for is to give you some helpful advice on how to start this year right, and how to have the best high school experience possible. So, let's get into it! (Boy, do I sound like a youtuber or what?)

Alrighty so, I know that you are going to hear this a million times, but the friends you walk in with are not going to be the same ones you walk out with. It's kind of crazy, honestly. Looking back, I began high school with a totally different group of girls than It looks like I'm leaving with. I'm fine with this, though, funnily enough. It's surprising, but it's not necessarily a bad thing. I never believed anyone who gave me this advice, but now I'm starting to understand. Listen, it's not that your friends are going to leave you necessarily, but your group is going to change. It's not even that your circle is going to become smaller- it's just that it's going to change a lot dependent on which sports you join, what clubs you take part in, your class schedule even, and honestly, even simply the levels and caliber of the classes that you're taking.

Luckily, there's a plus side to this whole friendship fiasco. You're going to meet so many new people you never talked to in middle school. You might even become best friends with girls and boys you were scared of in middle school, or people you thought that you would never cross paths with. Don't be sad that your circle is going to change- see it as a new chance and opportunity for growth and diversity.

Let's focus on some other things- like enjoying your time in high school and not worrying about friendships fading. Here is some detrimental advice- get involved. Please. You are going to become so much happier when you're busy, active, and involved. Honestly, sports and clubs are one of the main ways to make friends, too. My best friends are the girls I do my sports with. I've even become super close with people just by sitting next to them in a class or by being a part of leadership in clubs with them. Even if you're scared, join a sport. Any sport. Join marching band or join field hockey. Be a cheerleader, join choir. Literally anything is possible, you have a blank slate of four whole years in front of you.

It's okay to make a mistake, by the way. You may join soccer freshman year and hate it. The following year, you could join tennis and discover it's your true passion. The coaches and the players are going to understand. It's all about your best interest! This was hard for me- stopping one sport to do another was pretty intimidating. But, as it turns out, the coaches understand, and they truly just want to see you happy and thriving.

Let's talk about academics, now. Form good relationships with your teachers! These are the people that you're going to need when it comes crunch time and you need some good, well-written recommendation letters for college. Keep your GPA up! The first two years of high school are the most important for cultivating and maintaining a good grade point average. Grades are important. I'm not saying to stress yourself to death over them, but definitely put plenty of effort and time into your academics. It will truly be worthwhile in the end.

Freshman year is amazing. You are going to have so much fun and you're truly going to discover yourself for who you are. Remember to stay true to yourself. Always watch out for yourself and the people that you love. I know parties seem fun- trying them out to see if they're your thing is fine, just make sure you don't get too wrapped up in having fun that you end up letting your grades drop. Sometimes you're going to need to say no to fun in order to maintain your grades, keep up with studying, and to make sure you build a bright future for yourself. Do everything with the future in mind. Live in the moment, but also try your best to make sure your actions today don't require consequences that you have to pay later on.

Popularity truly does not matter. Don't even think about it or focus on it. Be yourself, be with people who make you happy, and do things that make you happy! It literally does not matter how "well-known" you are or how cool people see you as. See yourself as awesome. Love yourself. Self-love is SO much more important than anything else. Have confidence in yourself. You owe it to yourself to build the life you've always imagined and to become the person that you want to be.

Here's a tiny piece of advice- remember to take some me-time, sometimes. Get some snacks, a fuzzy blanket, light a lavender-scented diffuser, and binge watch some Netflix. Sometimes, you just need some me-time. That brings me to another valid point- get comfortable with sometimes having to be alone and independent. Especially when you get your license, you're going to have a lot of independent and alone time. Don't be afraid to go places alone. It's all good. Be that mysterious, independent, and cool chick who gets things done, even if she has to get them done all by herself. It's pretty fun and exciting, actually.

Don't procrastinate. You're going to be so much happier when you're stress-free and successful than you would be cramming and trying to have fun while having responsibilities lurking in the back of your mind. One more piece of advice... get a weekend job! You're going to want a car junior year, and you're going to want to go out with your friends. You're going to need money in order to do all of these things.

Overall, freshman year is genuinely a lot of fun. It's a learning experience, really. You're going to enjoy it. Get involved. Focus on your schoolwork. Try your best to balance yourself both academically and in terms of your extracurriculars, without having a mental breakdown. When the day comes that you are stressed to the point of boiling over- remember that you have people who love you. You have friends, coaches, teachers, parents, and even guidance counselors. They are there for you. Use them.

I really hope that this article offered up some decent advice to my incoming freshmen. As I wrote this, the feelings of being the new kid in a new school all came flushing back. That's a good thing, too, after all, because come a year from today, I will once again and perhaps for the last time, be the new kid in school- in college!

Good luck with your freshman year! If you ever need anymore advice, you can literally come to me. My Instagram is @taylorcontarino. Pop through the DM's if you need some life-changing advice :)

Love Always,

The Senior Preparing to Enter Her Last Year Of High School

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

50517
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

32296
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

955600
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

180689
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments