Ah, freshman year of high school. A new building, a new set of teachers, rules, new friends, everything new. These next three years will all build up the the grand finale, senior year and graduation. That seems so far away right now, but I promise you, its the fastest three years of your life. If i could go back and restart I would, but there would be a few things I wish someone would have told me. So here I am, currently in my second week of my senior year, worried and yet exited about what my last year of high school has to hold, and ready to give some advice to ANY lower classmen about what high school has to offer.
1. your friends freshman year will sadly not be your friends senior year.
There might be one, maybe two that stay around all four years. It's honestly heart breaking, but people join clubs, play sports, do extracurricular activities, they are going to find people they fit in better with. It's life, but you will make so many new amazing people that will be by you during some of the best and worst times of your life.
2. thank your teachers.
Every new school year, I make sure to stop and talk to my past teachers, ask them how they are doing, tell them you miss their class. It means so much to them honestly. To know that former students appreciate what you do makes them do their job in a happier manner, and take pride in what they do, it really, truly makes them love their career.
3. focus, focus, focus.
I cannot stress this enough!! Coming from someone who lagged behind freshman year, worrying too much about what's going on around me, I failed some classes, and I am still paying for that today. If you have homework on a school night, do not sit around on your phone or go out with your friends because when it gets around to you, you won't be able to catch up. If you have a important essay or assignment over the weekend, don't spend all weekend with your friends, put aside a day for your school work or make sure you finish it before you go out.
4. DRAMA IS NOT WORTH IT..
Drama is almost guaranteed to happen to you sometimes in four years. Gossip is only gossip, and words are only words. Like the old saying goes, "sticks and stone may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."
5. don't be afraid of new things.
Being in a club was is one of the most enjoyable things in school. Getting together with a large group of people who enjoy the same things you do is a great way to make new friends. So join a club, try a sport, or be in a fine arts program!
6. don't try too hard to fit in.
Trying too hard to fit in can lead you to be in a world of hurt in school. At this age, there is so many things floating around school that can lead you to be in with the wrong crowd and get into major trouble. Peer pressure is going to happen, make sure you are strong enough to say no! Pick your friends wisely because as my dad has told me growing up, "you run with dogs, you're gonna' get fleas!"
7. appreciate your friends and family.
Me personally, this matters so much. I have lost two very dear friends, and while I have been in school, four in total have passed away. It's a tragedy that will effect the whole school, the halls get quite, everyone comes together in prayer and with sympathy. I only wish I could have went back and spent one more day with them all. Also, your parents are doing so much for you during these years. They will buy you a car, pay for your back to school shopping sprees, they do so so much for you and it really makes them happy when you tell them thank you and say I love you when they do things for you!
8. relationships are not everything
Do not, i repeat, do not stress over a boy or girl. It is soooo not worth it. It will only distract you from school, and will hold you back from doing what makes you happy, like hanging out with friends. I've seen first hand what relationships do to friendships, it kills it. Most people in our age group aren't in a relationship for good intentions.
9. ENJOY IT....
These have been the fastest, most heartbreaking, happiest and scariest years of my life, but I would not trade it for the world. No, you "can't wait to get out of school and graduate", because when you graduate, the real world is waiting and now that I am so close to it, I am already missing it. There is nothing like cheering on your team on Friday nights hand in hand with your best friends, nothing like the feeling you get when it's a new school year, when you ace that test that you missed the movies Saturday night to study for, and when you wake up on the last first day of high school.
