Your best friend is in honors math and advanced language arts, otherwise known as the “smart” classes? Keep your friendship in check without feeling like you’ve been reduced to her intellectual inferior.

The Art of Being Smart
No, your IQ hasn’t taken a nosedive if your classes aren’t on the same level as your friend’s. It just means you have to work a bit harder in some subjects and that your strengths lie elsewhere. Your BFF has always been into history, while you strum guitar. You’re a whiz on the computer but couldn’t care less about how to dissect a frog. Everyone is smart in different areas of life. Know what you’re good at, and have fun doing it.

Don’t Worry, Be Happy
Some anxiety over this is expected, but don’t be so hard on yourself…or your BFF. It’s not her fault your classes are different. Whatever you’re feeling, don’t take it out on your friend in a negative way. You’re her bud, so be supportive. Sure, she’s smart—but it took a whole lotta book-cracking to put her at the head of the class. She deserves props.

Separation Anxiety
This new class schedule has you and your friend split up for most of the day. So hook up at lunch, sign up for some of the same extra-curriculars, and clock in after-school hang time. You two will have different teachers and classmates, so you’ll have so much more to dish about—like that row of hotties in English. Also, you and your BFF could share a locker. That way, you can meet up between classes, switch up your books and pass each other notes.

Room for Improvement
So you’re not in GT geometry, but you can pull your absolute personal best in algebra II. Be inspired by your bud’s scholastic ways, and spend a little more time each day hitting the books and reviewing your notes. If you get stumped, you have the best-ever study buddy so recruit her as a tutor.

Also, work to hone your true talents. Use your American Idol-ness to land the lead in a play. Spread your love of oil-painting over a series of canvases to steal the art show. Take all-around gold at this season’s gymnastics championship. Your BFF might graduate valedictorian, but that doesn’t necessarily add up to Most Likely to Succeed. We’ll let you in on a little secret: There’s enough success to go around for everybody.