<p>Hey! I just graduated from high school, and becoming a college freshman has reminded me of how nervous I was as a high school freshman. I made a list of everything I was nervous about four years ago. Upperclassmen, feel free to add advice, and I hope this helps any nervous freshman. Some of the stuff seems kind of basic, but hey--it's reassuring, right?!</p>
<p>A Guide to Being a High School Freshman (eek!):</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Bottom of the pecking order: During your first year in high school, some of the upperclassmen are going to pick on you, mostly just because they can, and because they were picked on (I know—stupid, right?). Just try to be mature, and don’t act like you deserve to be picked on. Having a few upperclassmen friends that really have your back can help, too. If you are getting bullied a lot, let your parents, a teacher, a guidance counselor, or your principal know. They care a lot about you and will keep you safe.</p></li>
<li><p>Make new friends but keep the old: Your friends WILL change during high school. People join different groups (he’s a theatre nerd, she’s a soccer freak, they’re computer geeks, etc.) This is OK, and it’s part of becoming a unique individual. Join some new clubs and be open to becoming friends with people you never thought you would be friends with. Some old friends will become more distant, but you might keep some besties. It’s OK, you don’t need to stress about it, or create lots of drama.</p></li>
<li><p>Grade point average: What is a GPA? It’s just some fancy number to figure out an average of your grades. The grading scale is different from school to school, but here is the most common scale: A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, and F=0. Add together all the grades you’ve gotten (separate semesters) and divide by the number of grades. Some school have weighted GPA’s, too, which means for an advanced class, A=5, B=4, and so forth. It’s a good idea to keep your GPA at least at a 3.0, but of course the higher the better!</p></li>
<li><p>Lunch time is the best time: Enjoy your lunch time! It’s your time to talk as loud as you want (within reason) and just talk about whatever with friends. During the first week of school, lunch tables change a bit, but usually stay the same for the most part after that. Can’t find any friends in your lunch? No problem – just go ask to sit with people that look like they might be nice (or just sit down at their table if you think they’ll say no). Or you could sit with that guy from chemistry who’s sitting alone, too.</p></li>
<li><p>So much homework: In high school, you’ll probably have more homework than you did in Middle School or Junior High. You might even get some on the first day (especially if you have an honors or AP class). Don’t worry – homework becomes more routine and doesn’t seem like such an unconquerable mountain. Do realize that the worksheets might be harder—meaning that the answer isn’t always highlighted and bolded in your textbook. Just read carefully, take good notes in class, and ask for help if you need it.</p></li>
<li><p>Asking for help: Teachers actually want you to get the right answers. I know—it’s hard to believe, but they really care about you. Furthermore, no teacher will think you’re stupid just because you need some tutoring on point slope form or the difference between meiosis and mitosis. If you’re anything like me, going to see a teacher before or after school is the most terrifying prospect in the world, but I PROMISE that it’s worth it, and that your grades will thank you.</p></li>
<li><p>I need a study buddy: Whether or not you studied in Middle School, you are probably going to have to study in high school. Use flashcards, re-read notes, re-do homework problems, read the textbook, and join web study tools like Quizlet or Khan Academy. Having a study buddy for extra hard classes helps, too. Grab some coffee on the way to each other’s houses! Starbucks, anyone?!</p></li>
<li><p>SAT and ACT – New diseases?: No, the SAT and ACT are NOT strange, infectious diseases straight out of movies like contagion. They’re just exams that colleges use to see how ready you are for college. You won’t have to take them until your Junior year, but you might want to start studying sophomore year or take the PSAT (practice SAT). But right now, consider these tests part of your distant future, and don’t spend time worrying too much about them. Learning everything you can in your classes is the best test prep anyway!</p></li>
<li><p>Extra Extracurriculars: It’s a good idea to join some extracurriculars that sound like fun to you. Softball, Football, Theatre, Track, Art Club, Quizbowl, French Club, Dance, Choir, Band, Student Council, and Swimming are just a few examples of clubs, sports, and activities you can join. Getting involved in your school helps you make friends, gives you something to do other than homework after school, and looks good on your college applications in a few years. If joining all of these looks scary – don’t worry! Just pick one or two that sound like you would want to join and try them out.</p></li>
<li><p>First day of school: This is probably the most looked forward to/dreaded day of any high schooler’s life. What will you wear? Who will you sit next to? Will you get to class on time? What if your locker doesn’t open? What if that cute senior winks at you? What if you and your teacher get off on the wrong foot? What if, what if, what if? Relax! It will go better than you think. Lots of people are willing to help you, and teachers almost never mind if you’re late the first day, especially if you’re a freshman. They understand that everything is brand new. Wear whatever floats your boat, but try to be practical (7 inch heels are NOT practical, and neither are pants that can’t be pulled up past your knees). Sit next to whoever you want—this is a chance to break out of your comfort zone. So have fun, and enjoy high school, because it’s one of the most exciting times of your life—right on the edge of being an adult.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Good luck to all the freshmen! I hope you have the best first year of high school ever!</p>
<p>*Edit: spacing</p>