Nur Aneesa

Is this just a wicked game? Will it wash with the next rain? Can't give in, I can't give up I'm trying hard, it's not enough Throw myself to the unknown Like a skipping stone An echo on the water I'm letting go Surrender to the bottom Another rising tide, another storm to fight Come and take me, I'm just a skipping stone

Forever is a long time To be walking on a fine line Chasing after sunrise Putting on a fake smile

Sleep

Sleep is really important

Don’t stay up till 11-12 every night I will cry the next day

GET BACK ON SCHEDULE NOW SO YOU DON’T DIE THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL

Practice good sleep hygiene by getting into good habits before bed (I personally brush my teeth, change into my pjs, lay out clothes for the next day, then go make myself a mug of sleepy time tea to drink while I read)

Try to find a place to chill on your phone/read/do other not school/work related things that isn’t your bed

Organization

Color code

You know highlighting in pretty colors makes you happy don’t lie

You’re told to buy all your supplies beforehand but if you’re a high school student honestly don’t

Buy everything you know you’ll need (paper, pencils, highlighters, pens, etc.)

Then after the first day when your teachers give you the supply lists you can fill in whatever you don’t have

Try to keep your desk relatively clean but it’s ok if it gets a little messy don’t stress

Try to keep all your school stuff in one place

If you have classes that don’t have required notebook set ups then take notes for all those classes in one notebook and transfer the notes into subject notebooks at home save your backs

For my fellow IBD, Crohn’s, UC, IBS, lactose intolerant, or friends with severe food allergies

Don’t eat your trigger foods during the school year

It’s tempting but then you will cry

And since most GI conditions are aggravated by stress missing more school/work because of a flare will cause stress and make it worse

Don’t make the mistakes I made last school year I beg

Rest when you need to

School is hard with chronic illness, make sure you take care of yourselves

Mentally ill friends

AGENDAS

I know they can be hard to use but planning things and breaking stuff down into small pieces really does help

I use an app called Egenda which let’s me organize things by class and gives me notifications to get my shit done

REST

Get proper sleep because mental illness is draining

Don’t stay up till 11 just cause you wanna talk to friends it will catch up to you

Your friends want you to take care of yourself so sleep

Eat properly

Even if it’s something small for breakfast it’s better than nothing

Make sure you’re in classes you can handle

You might have the intelligence for AP but you may not have the stamina, that’s ok

School is about learning not competition don’t push yourself too hard

Food

Eat friends

Try to eat at least one fruit and veggie every day

You will feel better

Avoid diets during the school year unless necessary, stressing about food just adds more stress to your life

HYDRATE HYDRATE HYDRATE HYDRATE HYDRATE HYDRATE

Dehydration is as killer when you live in a hot area

Please don’t die

You are loved

Apps (my personal favorites)

Egenda - digital agenda

Desmos - graphing calculator

Quizlet - this app isn’t just for cheating, you can create flashcards, quizzes, and more and it saved my ass on some of my finals last year

Khan is well loved for a reason, it’s a great supplement program

Other

School counselor’s really aren’t great to talk to about mental health issues, they’re there for scheduling and handling school problems like bullying and such

If you can, find a therapist, seriously

Find good friends who support you

STAY OUT OF DRAMA

Eat at lunchtime, you need that boost to power through the rest of the day

Stay hydrated too, carry a water bottle

READ

ENRICH YOURSELF

LIBRARIES EXIST FOR A REASON GO FIND A GOOD BOOK

For incoming freshman

Don’t try to look cool

Stay out of drama it’s not worth it

Don’t feel pressured to date just because everyone else is

That senior is not actually interested in you, you’re just easy to control

Upperclassmen can be rude but if you find some cool ones make friends with them cause they can warn you about teachers and classes and help you navigate your new school

Try to have good relationships with your teachers, people may call you a teacher’s pet but there are perks to a teacher liking you

My bio teacher once called me up beginning of class just to show me a cat meme cause I have an “I like cats” pin

You can’t get by doing nothing like in middle school and teachers are a lot stricter, now is the time to learn the value of hard work

Fights aren’t worth it, if someone is challenging you just let it go

AND REMEMBER:

Grades do not define you.

You are loved.

Don’t be too attached to particular person. 

Don’t be friend with your best friend other friend/boyfriend cliques.

Don’t discourage too fast.

Be a big girl, with big heart.