It's the moment you've all been waiting for, ever since you first saw High School Musical and the very first episode of Gossip Girl. High School. I hate to tell you this, but high school-related movies/tv shows are nothing but exaggerated plots for entertainment purposes. Despite of that, they can be useful sometimes, such as Emily Fields from Pretty Little Liars, who struggled with coming out. I assume her character helped someone who was also going through the same situation as her.
Anyway I'm finally done with high school and I thought I would like to share my tips to the people who will be starting high school or for anyone really.
1) Be you.
There's nothing better than being yourself. By being you, you will make friends that will love you for you and most importantly you'll truly be happy. You shouldn't care what people think of you, so what if they think you're odd. They just lost their chance of being friends with the coolest person ever. In my opinion, you would be wasting your time if you pretended to be someone you're not.
2) Set goals and focus on them.
School is a place to help you learn, grow, and prepare you for the future. Is there a college you have in mind? Or do you want to make a difference at your school? Well make that your goal. Do everything that will help you reach your goal(s). Work hard in the smartest way possible. Don't forget to find your motivation.
3) Be open-minded
It's 2015 and you're most likely going to a school that's filled with different types of people from different backgrounds (race, religion, ethnicity, political views, etc.). Please don't be that person, who only surround themselves with people, who have similar views and background. How on Earth are you ever going to learn and grow? High school is the best time to expand your mind. It's also important to respect other people's opinions. As my U.S. History teacher once said, "The point of high school is to get along with other people." Hey, you never know you might get invited to their traditional cultural wedding.
4) Be kind.
Nothing goes wrong with spreading kindness. Our society is already polluted with negativity, so why make it worse? We're all struggling with personal problems. Perhaps invite that person, who's sitting all alone nearby, to your table. Be the reason for someone's smile. Spread positive vibes.
5) Organization is the key.
PLANNERS/AGENDAS. BUY ONE. Or use the one your school provides. It's 100% helpful, because I know I'm horrible when it comes to remembering stuff. It's a lot easier to jot down homework, assignments, test/projects due dates on your planner than to trying to remember it. Plus, if you glam it up, it can also be a great motivation and make school fun. There are several cute planners you can purchase from, such as Lilly Pulitzer, Kate Spade, Bando, or even Target.
6) Get involved with your school.
Do you want to make friends? Is there something you're passionate about? Do you need service hours for scholarships or graduation? If you said yes to any of these questions, then perhaps you should get involved with your school, by joining a club/sport. From my experience it was fun. My favorite club that I joined, was PeaceJam. It's a club for students, who are passionate about becoming leaders to create a positive change in themselves, their community and the world through the inspiration of Nobel Peace Laureates. I have to say, being part of PeaceJam was my favorite experience from high school. It's also another way to stand out from your peers on college applications.
7) Take care of yourself.
There's going to be a time, where you are stressed, busy, and just crazy-minded. First thing first, take a deep breath and a 10 minute break. It's really important that you take breaks between your busy schedule. Make sure you prepare healthy meals, because you need that good energy. I know Bethany Mota is an expert on that, so here's her videos on breakfast and lunch/snacks. Don't forget to get reasonable amount of a good night sleep. If you need more tips on taking care of yourself, I advise you to click this.
8) Take several pictures.
Yes. Taking pictures with your phone or camera is important. You want to make good memories, while you're in high school. I wish I've taken pictures more often. I think it would be good for your soul, if you took pictures at least once or twice a week, everyday if it's spirit week or a holiday/break.
9) Stay away from negativity.
Sadly, there will be irrelevant drama. Ignore it. Don't waste your time with those people. Surround yourself with positive people. You don't want majority of your high school experience to be filled with drama. Always remember, a boy is not worth ruining a friendship.
10) Change is good.
Apparently, a lot can actually happen between the transition of middle school to high school (summer). Just go with the flow. There's going to be a time where you make new friends and start drifting away from your old ones from middle school. At first it's going to suck, but again, go with the flow. You would contact your old friends, if you still wanted them to be in your life. It will be okay. Take this time to explore new things.
Style. If you want to change your style, then go for it, girl. Don't let people hold you back from what you want to wear or do. If money is holding you back, you can always shop at the clearance/sale section or buy the knock-off brands. You should use Pinterest for inspiration. Please don't think, what you wear is what going to lead you to more friends and popularity. Although, it maybe true, but is that really what you want? A friendship built from brand labels. There's going to be people like that, it's your choice. At the end of the day, it's all about kindness, your personality and creating pure happiness within.
11) Challenge Yourself
One way to learn about yourself, is to figure out what you're capable of doing, such as taking rigorous courses or run for an office position for a club, that you're actually passionate about. Not only will it look good on your college applications, but it will help you become a leader and make your high school experience even better.
12) Stuck on something? Ask for help.
Teachers and Guidance Counselors are there for a reason. They're one of the most important resources in every school. I promise your guidance counselor can help you with your needs, from giving you advice on college to helping you too solve your problems with your friends. Depending on some teachers, they can help you reach your ideal grade and provide study tips. It's up to you to seek their help. Plus, by reaching for help from teachers and guidance counselors, it can create a great relationship. Just maybe when the time comes, they can write a recommendation letter for you. Take advantage of their office hours.
I hope these tips were helpful for you. I'm pretty sure there are more, but these are all I can think of solely based on my experience. I know you all will do great this year. Make the best of it.
Helpful links
http://study-hack.com/
http://www.sparknotes.com/
Videos
Study Tips And Organization
CrashCourse
Quotes of the day:
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." - Nelson Mandela
"One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world." - Malala Yousafzai
"The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows." - Sydney J. Harris
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