By Cheryl Mattox Berry
Dear Freshmen,
Welcome to high school. You’ve finally arrived after eight long years, longer for those who started in pre-K. High school is a big, noisy place full of girls who seem to know where they’re going in life. Not to worry, you’ll develop that level of confidence, too. If you’re a bit nervous about finding your way and place, don’t worry. It’s normal. Breathe.
Hopefully, you’ve arrived with a few friends from middle school. That will make the first days of high school a lot easier. You’ll also meet girls from other schools who are just as anxious about their new surroundings. Together, you’ll make it through the first week, first month and first year. Here are a few tips for a smoother transition from middle school to high school.
Get organized – Lay out the clothes, books and school supplies you’ll need at night. Mornings can be hectic, and you may forget something important in the rush of getting ready.
Shut it down early – If you’ve been staying up late all summer, re-program yourself to hit the sheets early. Turn off the phone, remove the earbuds and put the computer to sleep at least 15 minutes before bedtime. Give yourself some quiet time before dozing off. Studies say you need 8.5 to 9.25 hours of sleep each night.
Guidance counselor – S/he can help you navigate the course requirements, which can be confusing. Don’t be shy about popping in and asking questions or requesting a class change if you’re having difficulty.
Extracurricular activities – There are so many clubs and activities. You may want to continue one started in middle school or try something new. High school will be more demanding than middle school, so you don’t want to overload yourself. Pick a couple of activities this year.
Set a schedule – Time slips away if you’re not on a schedule. Create a chart of your activities starting with the moment you wake up until you climb into bed. Factor in some down time.
Study hours – Set aside time on the schedule to study Sunday through Thursday. Find a quiet place in your home with good lighting. Remove any distractions, such as the cellphone.
Friends – Old friends may become a little jealous when they see that you’re making new friends. Introduce new friends to old ones, and include everyone in your activities. However, don’t expect one big happy family. Sometimes, old friends pick up new friends and fall by the wayside.
Reputation – Guard your reputation like your life depends on it. You can’t help what people say about you, but don’t feed the gossip monster. Be careful about the company you keep, what you say about others and how you behave in public. Someone is always watching, and video cameras are everywhere.
Boys – Yes, they’re waiting on the new crop of girls. Don’t hook up with the first boy who smiles at you. Check out the boys the way they’re checking you out. If you know an upper class girl, ask her about a boy’s reputation before you start going out with him.
Staring this year, you’re writing the script for college. Everything you do counts toward getting into the college of your choice. There are no do-overs. You don’t want to make mistakes early on that will come back to haunt you senior year. The solution: Study hard, make good grades and stay focused on what is important.