We all remember our first day of high school. Teachers, sophomores, juniors, seniors and whoever else is reading this. We have all been “fresh meat” at some point of our lives. I can’t really describe how I felt on my first day of school. I only knew a handful of people and I was super quiet.  I was excited to make new friends and learn new things. I was also very nervous about finding my way around and trying to stay out of the way of upperclassmen. I knew the work would be difficult and I was so scared that I would do terribly. But I also knew that there were so many fun activities so I could have a blast. All these mixed up feelings built were swirling around in my head. I now realize that there really isn't much to be scared about! So, to all the new incoming freshman reading this, I'm here to help you make it through your first year of high school!

 

     I’m just going to give  some tips that will help you through your day-to-day school year. These are not guaranteed to help right away. These are things that take time and patience. Here we go:  

 

     Tip #1: Don't skip out on orientation. Not only will it make you more comfortable in your new school environment, and get you used to a few teachers, but you can also use orientation as a social opportunity. That's right. Instead of hanging out with your parents or grandparents, you can go out of your way to meet a few new people, and to hang out with your old friends who might be attending this school. Look sharp. Wear your normal clothes, but make sure to put some effort into your appearance and hygiene. You only get to make one first impression.

 

     Tip #2: Don't be afraid to make new friends. Remember, you are never alone! There are hundreds of teens experiencing what you are feeling at this very moment. I know you may feel a million different things. Just remind yourself that there are people that feel the same way. Brush those feelings off and put a smile on your face! When you make new friends, you can talk to them in advance about their schedules, and see who can sit with you at lunch. If you're the new student, don't worry. You are never the only one. There are many people who share the same interests as you and are seeking those who share that interest. There are other freshman in your class that are just as nervous as you  and  are also seeking someone to help them through feshmen year. Don’t be scared to say hello to the person next to you or someone you see sitting or standing by themselves. You never know. You might end up being the best of friends for the rest of high school.

 

     Tip #3: Get everything you need before school starts. Before the first day of school, you should be prepared with everything you think you might need so you don't have to scramble on the first day. You should have a copy of your schedule if you already have one. What I recommend you do is make four copies of your schedule. One to paste on the inside of your locker, one to keep on hand and the other one to be on your fridge at home or in your room. All of your books, binders, notebooks, and school supplies, and a change of gym clothes if you have to take gym. Don't be that guy who forgot his gym clothes on the first day or the girl who had to borrow a pencil in every class. It is not the way to start your school year off. Trust me, I’ve been there.

 

     Tip #4: Be aware of your school's dress code. Some schools have stricter dress codes than others. Newark Tech is one of those schools with strict dress codes. Since we have a required uniform, make sure you wear it appropriately. A perfect example is short skirts. Our rule here is that your skirt should be no shorter than your middle finger tip. Girls, after you put on your skirts, stand up with your hands at your sides to see if you pass the test. Also avoid showing your bra straps, and guys, avoid sagging your pants and revealing your boxers. Our school has a very strict rule about pants sagging. Boys here are required to tuck their shirts in. To avoid the pants sagging situation, buy the right size pants or wear a belt. I know you hate school clothes shopping but it’ll save you a lot of detentions.

                  Another thing. I know some of you wear shirts under your blouses to change after shcool more quickly. If you can’t tell, our school shirts are very transparent. Don't wear t-shirts with offensive language or offensive references. These could even get you suspended, in the worst cases. The last thing is your ID and ties. I can not stress this enough. Principal Denis, is very strict on those two things. Not wearing your tie or ID, you won’t even be let in the building. Please save yourself the trouble of being sent back home on your first week of school. The littlest things can get you into trouble. Yeah but rules are rules! Make sure you are in-the-know about  school rules so you can avoid all those  detentions. 

 

     Tip #5: Upperclassmen can help you figure out the following things: how to act around certain teachers, which people to avoid, the low-down on the clubs or sports you're interested in or the game plans for acing certain classes. I, myself, know a good handful of juniors, seniors, and recent graduates. Upperclassmen may look super intimidating, but they were in your  position not too long ago. They understand how you feel. You can always go to one of them if you have a question about anything. 

 

     Tip #6: Try out different social groups. Though you may be worried about finding the place and group where you really fit in right away, you should explore your options as much as you can. There will always be the popular kids, the nerds, the cool nerds, the jocks, the stoners, the goths, the Plastics and all of the other groups you may come to expect. If you think those groups really exist in school, you need to put down the remote, stop watching Mean Girls and look up into reality. Don't jump to conclusions and get to know as many people as you possible. Though it's important to be open-minded, try avoiding the kind of people who will get you into trouble by making you smoke, cut class, or cheat on tests. 

 

     Tip #7:  Avoid dating for a while. Though you may have met your dream lover in your first period environmental science class, it's wiser to hold off before you start sending the kid any love notes. If you get wrapped up in a high school relationship right away, you won't have time to branch out, make friends, and figure out what actually makes you happy. Also, let's face it: 98% of high school relationships don't last, so you could put yourself in an awkward situation when you break up and all you have are mutual friends.

 

     Tip#8: Be respectful to your teachers. You may think that it's cool and funny to be mean to your teacher, but when your midterm grade rolls around and your C+ was not rounded to a B-, you'll have another thing coming. Though you won't love all of your teachers, it greatly benefits you to be polite to them, show up to their classes on time and at least act interested in the course material. Sleeping in class is highly unadvised. When you apply to college, you'll need several teacher recommendations, so it's better to start building your relationships early.

 

     Tip #8: Have a solid tailor-made study plan. Everyone has their own way of doing things. If you want to succeed in your first year of high school, or even for the rest of your school life, then you have to know which habits that do and don't work well for you when it comes time to study for the big exam. Do you study best during your free periods, right after school, or at night, before you go to bed? Do you like listening to music or snacking while you study, or do you prefer to work with a friend? Maybe you just like peace and quiet so you can really focus. Find a routine that works for you early on and stick to it. If you work better in groups, then find a study group made up of academically-minded young people so you can motivate each other. Do this only if you think you can really get work done this way. Become a master note-taker. Taking notes in class will help you study when exam time comes. And, obviously, avoid all nighters. You will feel panicked and horrible, and too exhausted to do well on the day of the big test. Block out time to study at least several days in advance before a big test. Try to review a little each day. It's hard to get yourself to review for half an hour two or three weeks before a test...but imagine cramming that many hours the night before. Plus, you'll retain the information much better.

 

     Tip #9: Do your homework. This should be obvious, but it isn't. Don't do your homework on the bus on the morning of school, or in homeroom, either. Not only will you be in a rush and do it wrong, you will learn absolutely nothing and be unprepared for when you walk in your class. Take the time to diligently do your homework right after school, in study hall, library or when you get home after extra-curricular activities. Make sure that you really get it done instead of just doing the bare minimum and forgetting key information. Plus, this practice will help you to study for the test. And if you're struggling with your homework, don't be embarrassed to get extra help after school. I promise you that no one will make fun of you for it. Chances are, there are others who also don't get it and are silently asking the same question. They'll be glad someone spoke up! If you are having great difficulty, you can also set up a time before or after school to meet with your teacher.

 

     Tip #10: Join an interesting club or sport. High school is the time to try new things, and luckily, Newark Tech has so much to offer! There are so many clubs to choose from, like the book club, robotics club, newsletter club, dance club, fashion club, and so many more! Many schools also offer a wide variety of sports, including a freshman level! So if you've always wanted to tryout for basketball or give soccer a try, now's your time to try! Joining a club or sport is also a great way to meet people!

 

     Tip #11: Your teachers are here to help you. This has probably already been drilled into your heads so many times, you’re ready to explode. Well, guess what? I'm going to drill it even deeper. High school teachers want to make sure you clearly understand the lesson, as it becomes more and more crucial as college nears.You might also think  because they’re older, they don’t understand you but I promise they will. They were your age at some point and they all have to experience being a freshman in high school. Talking to them will help you.

 

     Tip #12:  Participating in class will not only keep you from falling asleep in class and will make your teacher love you, but it will also make you more excited about the things you're learning, and more excited to come to class. You don't have to answer every question your teacher asks or offer insights every five seconds, but you should speak up from time to time so your teacher sees that you know your stuff. Participating will also make you do better on tests. If you're more engaged with the material, then you'll understand it better. Another thing is that teachers here give you extra points on your grade for your participation in their class. It isn’t much but it does gives you a little boost.

 

     Tip #13: Avoid the "everything folder" at all costs. You know that folder from the eighth grade, where you just shoved all of your papers from every subject? You know, the one that tore in half by the end of the year, the one that you lost under your bed for a week that made you fail two tests? Yeah, that's amateur hour. It's time to step up your game. Get a different folder for every class. Label them or have them color coded. Whatever works for you.

 

     Tip #14: Start thinking about college, but not too much. Though you shouldn't feel pressured to make a list of your top ten dream colleges during your freshman year, you should have an idea of what kind of college you'll be applying to, or at least a sense of how competitive it is. In general, to apply to a four-year university, you'll need to demonstrate a record of academic success, foreign language credits, 2-3 teacher recommendations, a personal essay, and participation in outside activities, from team sports to volunteer organizations.

                  If you start joining clubs and sports during your freshman year, you'll have time to develop your skills and find a leadership position by your junior or senior year. If you haven't done anything outside of school until your junior year, and you're suddenly joining 5,000 clubs, colleges will be suspicious. You can think about college, but don't obsess over it. One grade will not affect your admission to college, and you'll still have a lot of school left. If there IS a college you know you want to go to, research for their course requirements to get a brief idea of what credits you need. Better to get those out of the way rather than cramming them all in one year.

 

     Tip #15: Don't be too cool to be smart. Seriously. This is something you will regret for the rest of your life. Sure, you might end up being cool in high school, but what about when it comes time to apply to college and you can't even spell your name correctly on the SAT? Though your social life is important, don't forget that your academic life is just as important and maybe even more so, since it can set the tone for the rest of your life. Don't hide your intelligence just because you think people will like you more if you're clueless. That's just not true anymore. Plus, even if it were, the right people will like you regardless of if you're in honors and racking up good grades.

 

     I know these are a lot of tips but they’ll really help you. I am telling you these things based off my own experience in my freshmen year. And, just to put the icing on the cake, let me tell you one more thing: Have fun! I can not stress this enough! High school is supposed to be some of your greatest moments in life! Live it and love it to the fullest everyday!

     See? It really isn't that hard! Knowing these things will hopefully make you feel a little more confident about your freshman year of high school. Just keep your head held high and enjoy it while you can!