Transitioning to high school can be intimidating and scary. You are now four years away from graduating and having to figure out what you want to do after you graduate. You are also the youngest group of kids in the school and do not know your way around. Surviving your first day of high school can be a breeze with a support group, good attitude, and the motivation to do your best.
To survive your first day of high school, find the people you know. Odds are you went to middle school with a vast majority of the people attending their first year too. Find your friends and compare schedules. If you are one of the few people who do not have friends established because you are from out of town or homeschooled, most high schools have tours and current students that will show you to the right classes. The bonus of doing this is that you will have one less thing to worry about when you are trying to get to class on time.
Second, be friendly-not only to other students but to all teachers and staff. High school life tends to be a whole lot easier if you are known as a nice person. Teachers, administrators, other students, and even the lunch staff appreciate dealing with students who are kind and respectful because there are so many students who do not care and just do not want to be there. Kindness can go a long way. You never know what others are going through, so you might just be the one shining light they need to keep going that day. The easiest rule to follow is the Golden Rule. It states: “Treat others as you want to be treated.” This is very important because you wouldn’t want to be treated like a lesser individual, so it is not right to treat others as such.
Furthermore, pay attention and learn classroom expectations. Get to know all of your teachers and make a great first impression. Make sure your teachers know that you will be dependable to meet deadlines and have a hard work ethic. Also, get to know the school policies and how to stay out of trouble. You will also want to find at least one student in each class you can talk with, someone you can count on to work with as a partner. Knowing what is to be expected of you and knowing peers that you can count on helps to set up an enjoyable, productive year.
Finally, along with having great friends, enjoyable classes and motivation; just be yourself. Being yourself is a super important part of beginning your high school career. Do not try to be someone you are not, you could risk compromising your morals and values for people who are only a part of your life for a short period of time.