Breaking out of your comfort zone:
The pressure that everyone tells you you’re under when stepping foot in high school for the first time might seem very intimidating, but that also is just part of the experience, a canon event. Socially, high school tends to mesh differently and allows for students from different grades to form friendships, which ultimately, doesn’t seem to happen much in middle schools. Seeing a multitude of different classes, all different levels of intensity, might seem overwhelming, but options are a privilege that high school provides. There are so many clubs, sports, AP or IB classes to join or look into to see if they interest you. One of the most important pieces of advice would be to break out of your comfort zone and try to attend the club meetings or sports events to find your group of friends that help make high school just a little bit easier. High school is where you start to build your character, and in order to do that, you have to branch out from what feels normal. Talk to that intimidating group of people, ask your teacher if you can learn more about this club, go out to lunch with this group of friends, or maybe even join the school newspaper to report, write, and design stories for everyone.
Forming long lasting friendships:
In high school, the students seem to hit that point of maturity where they become more empathetic and bearable to be around. Some friendships form into relationships, some friendships backfire and blow up in your face. It’s important to venture out and find your person who you can trust and confide in when school and social times get to be too intense. It’s good to have someone to lean on in times of doubt. Who knows, they may become some of the most long lasting friendships you have after high school and into college. People always say that time flies in high school, when it’s exam season it might seem like a lie, but when it’s a Friday night at a football game, Prom, or Homecoming, the time flies and you wish it would slow down. For me, I have learned to form different friendships whether that’s in my biology class, my sport practice, in the hallway, or even with underclassmen who I can look after. Friendships or relationships can be difficult, but it is important to work your hardest through the tough times, and do not forget to communicate, that’s the key to any healthy relationship.
Building ‘You’ through clubs and academics:
There always seems to be a new club sign hanging in the bathrooms, there are so many options to choose from that there will always be one that best fits your interests. Multiple clubs like HOSA, which is health related, or DECA, which is business related seem to interest lots of new students. But there are also a lot of clubs to join, meet new people, learn new things, and possibly become a president of. Joining clubs looks great on resumes and applications for colleges, but if there are none that interest you, there might be some AP or IB classes that catch your eye instead. For me, I didn’t really know what to take, but choosing my AP Biology 1 class really was a great decision for me. There are so many AP/IB class options available, and furthermore, you could take the test and earn some college credits early if that is something that you wish to pursue. There is nothing wrong with taking an AP/IB class and not taking the test. Overall, classes and clubs open your horizons and allow you to meet new people to possibly bond with over something similar in subject. Don’t forget, it’s never too late to join a club.
