Now that freshmen are starting high school, they could really use some advice, advice that would be really helpful coming from seniors and juniors.
One of the biggest struggles is making new friends and keeping in touch with the old ones, especially as one’s schedule gets more packed, with school work, extracurricular activities, and spending time with friends and family.
“Always keep in touch, it’s really easy to grow out of touch,” senior Lily Rangel said on the importance of keeping in touch with friends, since growing apart is quite easy due to packed schedules that may not always align with a friend’s schedule.
“Take the courage to talk to others and get out of [your] comfort zone to reach out to people you don’t really know,” senior Julian Romero also said on this issue, by encouraging freshmen to step out of their comfort zone and take the courage to reach out to new people
Maintaining schoolwork is another issue that high schoolers face. Knowing how to manage everything is extremely important, as it has the ability to pile up if left unattended for too long.
“Do homework,” Junior Musiq Parmele said. “Don’t procrastinate or skip. Do homework when you get it. It’ll catch up.”
Because of the workload that comes up, knowing how to manage stress is a crucial thing to know when starting high school. Rangel summed up her solution for this issue: “Make time for yourself. Make time for hobbies.”
Being able to provide yourself with some “me-time” helps make the difference between balance and stress. Taking time from the day, even just ten minutes, makes a difference for one’s mental health; so it’s critical not to overlook this factor when making one’s schedule.
This ties in with the ability to balance school life and social life, which can be an excruciating thing to do. When it comes to designing a schedule, making time for school and for friends is both important.
“If you have time for friends, perfect, but if you have a test, study instead. If they’re good friends, they’ll be there tomorrow,” Parmele said.
Finding extracurricular activities, such as clubs and sports, can be helpful as they serve as a good medium to hang out with friends and meet new people.
“Join at least one club. It’s nice when there are people of other grades,” Rangel said.
High school looks different for everyone, and knowing certain key elements from the beginning can help those four years be filled with success and joyful memories. Knowing what to take seriously and what not to take too seriously can be of great aid both in a student’s academics and in their social life.
