50 things i learned in my first year of high school
1. Procrastination makes life really hard so avoid it as much as possible.
2. Do assignments as soon as you get them, especially ones that are long-term and worth a lot of points. Make study/project plans as often as you can.
3. Have a study partner. This can be someone you work with during lunch, or (and this is very important) someone you can Facetime at 1 am when you are struggling to finish your homework. You need someone to pace yourself with and help you stay motivated.
4. Keep a simple planner and calendar. You donât have to be artsy if you donât want toâall it needs to do is keep you aware of your commitments and prevent you from being overwhelmed. I use Google Calendars (sync abilities are great and itâs free) and ToDoist, but MyHomework is another great choice.
5. Be in at least one club/academic extracurricular and one sport throughout the year (they do not have to overlap). This will allow you to meet different groups of people and pursue your interests. Do not join anything that will become more consuming than your schoolwork.
6. AP classes are gross (my personal opinion). In terms of academics and college apps, there are way more important things.
7. Being popular is not important. Everyone has their own groups in reality, and theyâre all as unique and weird as the next. Donât sweat it.
8. Going to parties is overhyped. Itâs not going to make or break your hs experience. But, if thereâs a school-sponsored or team event youâve been invited to, donât miss it.
9. Take mental health days. You will need them, and everyone takes a few. Donât feel embarrassed.
10. If you think there is a serious issue with your schoolâs curriculum and/or policies, speak out about it.
11. If there is ever a point when you feel down as a result of social media, take a break from it.
12. Fashion and/or makeup is less important than your health and happiness. But, if you spend time on either, go you and donât let anyone put you down for it.
13. Make friends with as many of your teachers as you can. It will benefit you (curved grades, extensions, letters of rec, sharing resources, test help, even nicer communications).
14. Sit in the front of the classroom. If you get put in the back, email the teacher about not being able to see the board and they will probably move you up. It will increase your motivation tenfold.
15. Try to read your assigned reading books, but Sparknotes is your friend.
16. Always be honest with yourself about your capabilities. If you havenât finished reading a textbook chapter and the packet for it is due tomorrow, the packet is the most important.
17. Sign up for Brainly, it gives you free homework answers. Also, ALWAYS use Slader (esp. for math). Itâs a lifesaver.
18. Donât hang out with people who only want to talk to you for homework help/answers.
19. Â Do not stuff your backpack full of stuff. Keep it light and comfortable, and only carry essentials.
20. Keep at least a few of your middle school friends. Youâll want a few people who knew you when you were younger that can have the benefit of shared life experiences (and an appreciation for how much you have grown).
21. Do not rely on your locker for much anymore (no need to decorate it). Most high schools have lockers that are more of a burden to get to than they are helpful. A few rarely-used backup supplies are okay.
22. Have a make-friends tool in your backpack: something you can share to make people like you. Itâs a little mercenary but itâll help bridge the awkward gap between âhiâ and âcan you help me with homeworkâ or âwant to hang out?â I use a pack of gum even though I donât chew it.
23. ALWAYS have a few tampons/pads on hand (in backpack or in locker). YES, THIS APPLIES TO BOYS/PEOPLE OF ALL SEXES. You may not need them for yourself, but everyone should have the tools to support your menstruating friends. Itâs not uncool, and its not something to hide. Be there for people who forgot to bring supplies (which is very uncomfortable) or people who canât afford them at the moment!
24. A great place to check for study resources are your school and local libraries. My local library pays for an amazing one-on-one online tutor service that is available to all card-holders.
25. On another note, make friends with the librarian(s). Mine still gets my name wrong, but I can stay late almost every day.
26. There is a high likelihood you textbook has either been scanned by your teacher or is available elsewhere online. Download it so youâre never stuck without one again.
27. DO NOT MAKE YOURSELF CARRY YOUR TEXTBOOK AROUND WITH YOU. Take pictures, scan, etc.
28. Donât be stingy about sharing homework assistance, but donât let others exploit you.
29. Listen to music in the hallways. It helps.
30. Always carry a water bottle with you. Drink more than you think you need every day.
31. Also carry in hot chocolate/tea/coffee to make yourself feel better. Treat yourself during the school days.
32. Football games are pretty fun (coming from someone who barely went to them out of anxiety), so just go even if youâre alone. But whatâs even more fun? Going to a less popular sportâs game your friend is playing in.
33. Do spirit week. Why not? Thereâs nothing cool about skipping it.
34. Download the Forest app to put aside your phone when you study.
35. Listening to music while you study is not always a bad thing. If it makes you feel like a badass, youâre more likely to get stuff done than you would be without it. Itâs ok for it to have lyrics! Do you.
36. Itâs ok to be late to school sometimes. But if you are, at least go get yourself some Starbucks (and maybe bring something for your teacher so they soften up to you).
37. Look out for younger students, even if it just means driving them to a sports conference once a semester.
38. Develop a coping habit (esp. if you have mental illnesses outside of worries about school). Something my therapist once told me is to always carry something that satisfies each of your five senses to calm yourself down (earbuds for music, a tasty back-up snack, a potpourri or scented something in your backpack, pictures of your friends or a journal, and something soft or fidgety).
39. Thereâs nothing wrong with skipping a class a few times in the year.
40. Backup or always write your notes on an iPad or computer if you have one. Not only is it great for the environment, but they will always be with you. Homework is another good thing to do online as much as you can.
41. If your teacher hands out homework on paper, ask if they ever accept it online. Many are flexible on this point.
42. The answer to life, the universe, and everything.
43. Donât take your homework more seriously than it needs to be. For example, if you know one of your teachers only glances at your written work in a âcompletionâ grade style, accuracy and depth are less important. Donât overwork yourself if you can grasp the material.
44. Donât shame others or yourself for not doing homework, getting a bad grade, failing a class, being in a non-honors class, or anything similar. Shame gets you nowhere. Offer support to others is appropriate, and push yourself to do as best as you can. Let everything else slide off you like water.
45. You will encounter bullies, bigots, and jerks in every school. Do not be afraid to report them. Additionally, if their behavior does not change (although I do not think a second chance is always necessary in certain situations), go to your counselor and ask to switch sections. I did this and changing to a new group of peers was a great choice for my mental well-being.
46. Do studying at school, your local library, public center, park, or at your friendâs house. Being in your own space can give you a lot of distractions sometimes, and being away from your parents can help you focus a lot more.
47. You will have obnoxious teachers. Sometimes you will need to play by their obnoxious rules to pass. Do not let them break your stride.
48. Have at least one upperclassman friend if you are an underclassman. You might need a person who can give you advice or drive you around once in a while.
49. Try to make the little things in every day fun by being mindful or paying attention to details. The class snake in the back of the bio lab is actually pretty cute, and the snickers bar you got from the vending machine is delicious.
50. Do not let people tell you that you can just magically feel better or âturn that frown upside-downâ when school gets bad or you have a particularly awful day. The things that happen to you for six hours every weekday will have an effect on you, and it is ignorant to think you can just close the door on that stress, anxiety, or depression when the final bell rings. You must make a conscious effort to struggle through with the very best health, satisfaction, and successes that you can manage.
The education system has a way of breaking students down mentally and emotionally without actually teaching them much in the process. You will learn to hate it because of this. I meanâbalancing sleep, social life, and academic success when science implies only two can be handled at once? Find some reason that is unique to yourself that gives you a reason (other than the government makes me) to get out of bed and learn a bit every day. Keep going :)
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