During the past summer, my high school/Puente teacher asked me along with other Puentistas to be a part of an alumni panel. High school students asked us questions about college or basically any questions concerning living the adult life. There were a lot of alumni, so there was tons of advice given. A lot of it was great advice that I will certainly remember and apply when school starts. So, here are some things to remember when YOU go back to school.

1. Mistakes happen; just don’t let them happen often.

We are only human. We mess up from time to time. However, the failure does not define who you are. If you don’t do well on a test, it is not the end of the world. Just make sure you study even harder for the next one. Do not dwell on it because overthinking on what you did wrong will not fix anything. This is not an excuse to skip studying to play video games or watch another episode of the TV show, "Insecure". Study first then you can relax.

2. Time management is your new best friend.

Most of us are professional procrastinators. We find ourselves pulling our hair out while finishing homework or an essay the night before it’s due way too often. Instead, make sure you write down the due date and start working on the assignment for a good 20 minutes each day. By the time it’s due, you would have already completed most of it.

3. Make time for yourself.

It’s really easy to drown yourself in your studies. Your school activities can become overwhelming at times. It’s important to take some time out of your day and treat yourself. Take an hour to nap, watch Netflix or go buy some frozen yogurt. Do something that makes you happy. This way school doesn’t seem so hectic and make you crazy.

Hopefully, this article will help make your school year less stressful and more enjoyable as well as productive. Good luck in school!