Advice for Incoming High School Students: What I Learned!

 I just finished my first year of high school this year, and I wouldn’t say it was the best experience, yet I was able to learn a lot out of this year. Although my middle school goes up to grade 9, some schools do start middle school at highschool, and with the lessons I have learned this year I would say it was definitely more like a high school experience than middle school. 

1. Don’t Expect Anything 

Before starting grade 9, I was in online school due to COVID, and hadn’t talked to my classmates in person in 2 years. I was really excited to see everyone, but at the same time I was nervous. I had heard everyone had looked different, and had changed. I had gone into grade 9 thinking that it was going to be the best year of my life, and had a lot of expectations about graduation and the overall turnout. It was the complete opposite of what I anticipated it to be. People had become distant from each other, no one talked to anyone except the friend groups that we were in, and the energy was overall very negative. I enjoy school a lot, but when I was in that environment it didn’t make me happy. It did change overtime with the help of my friends making everything so much more fun, but it was definitely hard at first. I would say, don’t go into highschool expecting anything and let everything happen naturally. This way you’re more likely to enjoy it, with no expectations

2. Be Open to People Changing

When going into high school there may be many friends that you may drift away from, but it’s super important that you stay open to it. As hard as it may sound, it consists of change, and people sometimes naturally leave based on they’re liking, and the friends they want to be surrounded by and that’s okay. Make sure you’re doing the right things, being kind, and just being yourself. Despite what may happen, you will find people in your life eventually that will stick by your side, and will stay close with you. 

3. Stay Organized

Organization is key to any place you go. Making sure you don’t lose the thing you have is important in case you need it later. Forgetting your homework is no excuse, and even if you completed your homework and you lose it, you will have to re-do it or you won’t get a mark if that teacher doesn’t agree. Getting folders, binders, a good backpack, etc will help you stay organized and put your school work/stationary in the right place. As little as this sounds, it’s bigger of an advice. 

4. Surround Yourself With The Person You Want To Be

There’s this quote that I heard a few years ago and really hit me in a way I didn’t expect. It goes, “show me your friends and I will show you your future” -(by unknown). It showed me that the people that you surround yourself with are the person you are striving to be. If you don’t agree with the mindset that your friends have or the morals they follow it’s best to find people that follow what you believe in. You don’t want your friends to convince you into something that you don’t want to become. Find friends that are inspire you to become better and be yourself during the process, because that will help you attract the people that share morals like you. 

5. Be Involved

If you find yourself having a hard time making friends, clubs, and sports teams are a great way to find people who share the same interests as you. You get to learn more about your interests as well as create long lasting memories and friendships. Being involved even in a club that you may think you don’t like is something that you should try considering. Joining clubs or trying out for teams that you may not think you may be good at might spark an interest of its own. 

I hope this advice helped, and know that you will have a great high school year. Make sure to make the most out of it, and you’ll do great. Be kind, and don’t be hard on yourself. You got this!