Dear Freshman,

Think. Think about the future that is both impossibly here and looming in the distance. Think of the time you are losing, the seconds dribbling away faster than you can count. Think of the years before and the years to come. You’re so close to the future. You have four years, forty-eight months, two hundred and eight weeks, one thousand four hundred forty-fine days left until you have to face your future and live with the decisions you will make today and tomorrow.

Your first day of high school is quickly approaching. I’m sure you’re scared, terrified of the days to come. I know I was. You’re a freshman, a tiny creature at the bottom of the high school food chain, fresh meat for all the upperclassmen. You’re probably anxious about all that you’ve heard: You’ll lose friends. The drama is awful. Everyone hates freshmen. Don’t worry, being dumped into a trashcan isn’t that bad.

I suppose the first thing you should know is that being a freshman really isn’t terrible. It’s what you make it. Attitude changes everything. Freshman year can be amazing, or it can be awful- it’s all up to you. It’s not like Hollywood where you get thrown into trashcans. This is real life, your life, so you need to take it seriously.

Let's get my biggest piece of advice out of the way first, okay? Above all other things, you should be yourself. Don’t let what others think of you cause you to change into someone else. Don’t act out and go to parties just because that’s what other people do. Do what feels right to you. If it feels wrong, it most likely is.

Speaking of doing the right thing, choose the right friends. Don’t be friends with people who don’t share similar morals and ideals. Eventually they’ll change you. I know it’s not what you want to hear, but it’s the truth. If you hang out with the wrong people, you’ll eventually become someone you don’t recognize or even, quite frankly, like. Never let your friends drag you down. You can be a wonderful person, but your friends, if wrong for you, can really hinder that.

One of the biggest problems I faced in high school was actually choosing the right friends. So how did I find them? I stood by my ideal. If they didn't like it, they weren't really my friend to begin with. It's high school, okay? You're going to make friends and lose friends, but the people who are right for you will stay with you no matter what happens. True friends will always support you. Furthermore, do not, I repeat DO NOT, have friends just so you can have friends, and make sure you avoid fake friends. You know, the friends who disappear when you're having a problem or always have excuses. Keep your circle of friends small and true, and high school will be some of the best years of your life.

However, I have more to talk about than just friends. High school is about relationships, yes, but it’s also about academics and athletics- all that wonderful stuff you don’t actually want to hear about it. Well, clean your ears and listen closely because this is the important stuff. There’s so much you can be involved in. There are so many clubs and sports that you’ll probably not even know where to start. Here’s my advice: Join them all! What’s the worst that can happen? You won’t like it. All you have to do is not join again. However, if you never try you’ll never know if you like it. Also, involvement looks pretty amazing on college, scholarship, and job applications. They have whole sections dedicated to extra-curricular activities. You don’t want yours to look empty, right? Another quick tidbit is to write everything down. It really helps when you’re trying to remember every single thing you’ve been involved in a couple of years down the road. Also, don’t take the easy classes. Harder classes benefit you in the long run. Like when you're in college and wishing you had paid attention in Biology II.

Let’s move on, shall we? Have spirit. Many freshmen classes are lackluster at best when it comes to pep rallies and games, so break that tradition. Bring the spirit with you. Having fun at games and pep rallies can really make for some awesome memories. Now, looking back, I wish I had gone to more of the sporting events because it's really not the same once you graduate. Go now and make those memories. Let's face it. Making lifetime memories is honestly one of the best things about high school.

Now that I’ve overloaded you with advice and information, I feel like I’ve done my job. Do all that I have said, and you won’t regret it. You’ll pave your own way, make your own memories, and have fun. It’s that simple. Think about today; don’t worry so much about the future. If you take care of your business now , the future won’t be as terrifying.

Good luck and remember to avoid the trashcans!!

Oh, and just remember that you're going to rock this.

Sincerely,

A Former High School Freshman