Starting high school, or even surviving high school, can be a difficult task, with many ups and downs along the way. But with the help of this basic guide, high school can be a little more enjoyable for you, and well, you might just have some fun.
Be yourself
It’s hard sometimes. Maybe we don’t want to show our true selves, whether it be a lack of confidence or a fear of acceptance. However, if you’re not acting like yourself, if you’re putting on a ‘cool’ façade, things will more often than not turn out poorly for you. Don’t put on a mask in front of your friends. All of your friends should like you for you, not the person you think they want you to be. There’s billions of people in the world, but only one you. Okay, that was pretty cheesy, but the point remains—just be yourself. “Why should I care if they aren’t as cool as me,” junior Donnie Carpenter said. It may be hard at first. But in time you’ll love how much better you feel about yourself.
Dress for success
If you’re looking to make some new friends, wearing all black everyday probably isn’t the way to go. Your clothes say a lot about you; they are often the first thing people will notice about you, and they give some insight onto the type of person you are. ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’ doesn’t really apply in high school. If you constantly wear khaki’s and button up shirts, people aren’t going to assume you are a skater. Your body is like a blank canvas, and your clothes are like the paint; show off who you really are. “Wear what you like. If you’re comfortable with something, wear it,” junior Albert Jones said. Just don’t wear clashing colors. That’s a no-no.
Work hard, play hard
There once was a song called, “Work Hard, Play Hard,” by Wiz Khalifa. Take this advice. The road to success is often paved with hardship. If you power through the challenges you face, you’ll be well on your way to reaching your goals. If you don’t work hard, you’re only setting yourself up for failure. So back to the song from earlier. If you work yourself too hard, you may burn yourself out. Sure, doing a lot of work isn’t necessarily bad. However; too much of a good thing is often bad. A perfect balance between work and play is one of the major keys to conquering high school. But every student has their own reasons for working hard. “I want to work hard, become a grown up, help my family,” sophomore Johnny Nguyen said.
Be outgoing
School may start at 7:40 a.m. and end at 2:40 p.m., but there is much more to do before, after, and during school. Join a club or activity, such as a fall sport, or the Spring play. Go to an East sporting event. Why, you could even start your own study group, or do some volunteering. All of the above are great ways to make friends, are a great way to get your mind off of school, and you’ll have a lot of fun doing so. “It’s a part of high school; that’s how you get involved, and you get to meet people,” principal Leslie Morris said.