Freaked about making the leap from middle school to high
school? Breathe easy, babe—you’ve got this year in the bag! Here are your new
school dos ‘n’ don’ts, straight from the mind of high school senior. (And psst!
Heading to middle school this year? Our guide still applies!)
Do dress to impress
Fine print: Not to impress others, but to impress
yourself. Studies show that taking care
of your appearance in the a.m. boosts your performance and confidence
throughout the day.
Don’t procrastinate
Forget bullies, procrastination is seriously your largest
enemy from now on. My best tips to avoid the delay? Create a homework schedule
and stick to it, write down all of your assignments in a planner and finish
things sooner than later.
Do make an older
friend
Befriend an upperclassman who can give ya the low-down on
teachers, classes and the ins and outs of freshman year at your school.
Don’t skip class
Unless you’re really sick or have a family emergency, it’s
best to sit your bum in that seat, no matter how much ya don’t wanna be there.
It can be really hard to catch up on even just one class in high school, so if
you can be there, then, well, be there.
Do be on time
The earlier you are for classes, the more teachers will
respect you and take you seriously. That’ll be huge when, say, you want to
change project partners when you’re buddied up with a slacker, or you really
need an extension on that Hemingway essay.
Don’t bust your
budget
When your parents give ya the freedom to hang with your buds
solo at the mall on the weekend, they’re also giving ya free rein over your
bank account. Remember, you don’t have an endless supply of money, so getting a
part-time job and handling your money responsibly is essential.
Do find a study buddy
Instead of heading to your desk to fight through your
textbook solo, join a study group that can make the most of manpower—and
explain concepts you’re not getting. But remember: This is a study group, not a
gossip sesh!
Don’t let a
relationship consume your life
Although relationships are wonderful things to have, your
education always comes first. Talk to your significant other about this—perhaps
create some sort of “work, then play” schedule for texting/skyping during
weeknights, and on the eve of huge tests.
Do balance old and
new
Meeting a diverse group of people will in turn make you more
cultured and open to different ideas, but that doesn’t mean ya won’t need your
old buds. Hang on to all your hunnies—in HS, it’s totally cool to be a social
circle butterfly.
Don’t give in to peer
pressure
One of the most important lessons learned when growing up is
to listen to the beat of your own drum. People will respect you more and
gravitate towards you if you don’t follow the crowd. It takes a lot of courage
to be your own person, and to be comfortable in your own skin, but doing so
will not only boost your confidence, it will make you the “cool” one.
Do challenge yourself
Instead of going for the easy A, pick a class or club that’s
out of your comfort zone. Hello, broader horizons!
Don’t waste your
weekends
When your workload increases during high school, sometimes
you’ll need to make smart sacrifices, like skipping a party Friday night to
work on a project, so you can hang with your buds on Saturday. If you’re
careful about balancing work with your social life, you’ll be able to get it
all done and have a blast.
Do reinvent yourself
If there are things you didn’t like about yourself in middle
school—low self-confidence, serious slacker tendencies—you can make a total
transformation before the first day.
Don’t forget your fam
Yeah, yeah, you’re really busy. But that doesn’t mean you
can just ditch your fam. Always reserve some time to talk to and hang out with
them. Parents and siblings can always provide some of the best advice and
reality checks. They will always have your back. Never forget that!
Do take things slow
Here’s a bit of guy advice: you don’t have to get a
boyfriend as soon as you get into high school. Although it may seem tempting to
leap into a relationship, explore your options, befriend lotsa boys and see who
you mesh with. You’ll have a whole lot besides boys to deal with in high
school—more important things like work, your girls and grades. The boys will
never disappear—that I can guarantee—so take your time.
Don’t get in trouble
High school is not the time to get in trouble for things,
because, this time, it may affect your college application process. If you get
caught drinking, doing drugs, cheating or anything else idiotic, your school
may have the ability to suspend or expel you for it. You really don’t want to have something like that on your high school
transcript.
BY CAMERON O'BRIEN ON 7/23/2012 4:11:00 PM
POSTED IN smart girl secrets, rock your new school, back to school, bust first day fears, have the best school year ever, get your act together guide