A Quick Guide to High School

On the very first day of high school I was overwhelmed by the new environment I was faced with. Even though I knew many people from my middle school, I still felt anxious about the challenges that high school would bring. I wish that I had known what to expect before I started my first day of school, and that is why I’m going to give you my five best tips for starting high school.

1. Join as many clubs as possible. Freshman year is a time to explore your interests, and find out what you’re passionate about. Instead of sticking to the same activities that you’ve done your whole life, try to branch out. High schools offer a vast number of extracurriculars that you can participate in. For example, you can join a sports team, the band, the debate team, baking club, etc. Clubs are a great way to meet new people, and to find friends that have similar interests to you. If your school doesn’t offer a club that you’re interested in, start your own club. You can also see if there are open clubs at other schools, and do some research on high schools in your area that have a lot of open clubs. Charter schools often have more diverse clubs for all kinds of interests. Start your research on the best charter high schools in jacksonville fl, or do some more research on charter schools in your area for more club information.

2. Be open minded. You’re not going to come out of high school the same person that you were going in. Being open to new experiences, trying out different classes, and becoming friends with people that you didn’t know before are all good things that will allow you to grow as a person. This also means that you should have a positive attitude going into the year. Even though high school can be stressful, focus on the educational benefit you’re gaining from it, as well as all of the positive memories you will make that are unique to these next four years.

3. Develop good study habits. Understanding how you are able to learn best at the beginning of high school will make the rest of your four years go by a lot smoother. Not everyone is able to study the same way. Some people learn better by studying with friends, while others need to be in a quiet space. Figuring out how you need to study will make it easy for you to manage challenging courses.

4. Manage your time. Knowing how to balance your extracurriculars, schoolwork, and your social life is the key to getting the most out of your high school experience. When you’re a freshman it’s easier to develop good habits because your classes aren’t as difficult yet. If you stay organized with your schedule, and are efficient with your time, then your later high school years will be easier to manage.

5. Don’t take high school too seriously. High school is not the peak of your life, and your success in high school is not indicative of your worth as a person. Don’t view high school as just a pathway to college. Instead, you should use it as an opportunity to learn about a wide variety of subjects, which is something that is harder to do later in life. Have fun, and take advantage of all the opportunities that you are presented.