How To Wrap Your Head Around High-school

Everything You Need To Know For The Year Ahead

More Classes, More Stress? Not Necessarily.

For many of us, myself included, High school is right around the corner. For months, we have been looking forward to walking through those doors into the next part of our lives. However, the question lingers in many minds, where do you start preparing?

For many freshmen entering high school, it can be stressful and overwhelming at first. From classes to clubs to extracurricular activities, it may be difficult to find a work-life balance. But, there is hope! While it takes some getting used to, if you get involved with things that you are interested in, you will see that it isn’t as hard as you might think. With that in mind, be sure that you make sure to take advantage of all the different opportunities that are available during your high school years. 

What To Do Before Then:

1. Get in the Habit of Studying

Studying is difficult and there’s no denying that, but one of the most important things that you can do for yourself is to learn how to study and make it a habit. Many individuals who don’t regularly study struggle to keep their good grades. If you plan to take AP classes, this is even more important. AP classes are rigorous and rewarding but you can only succeed if you have a stable foundation, and studying is the way to get there. 

2. Time Management

While high school is an excellent time to branch out and find yourself, don’t forget that it is also an excellent time to build life skills. Not only will time management help your high school career but it will also help your professional life after high school. With the right skills, you can learn how to multitask and work under pressure which are essential skills to succeed. 

3. Build a support system

Behind every successful person is a team of supporters. It may be friends, family, or even teachers, but one of the most important things you can do for yourself is to build a support system. If you need help with school or just need someone to talk to, be sure that you always have someone to lean on throughout your life. 

4. Buy proper school supplies

While proper school supplies are often overlooked in importance when planning for the school year, they are often a key factor in your productivity and success. For instance, the right folders will help you stay organized and keep track of your schoolwork, and the right pens and writing utensils can help you be sure that you are always prepared. 

What To Expect:

1. Prepare to feel unprepared

While it may be tempting to just stick with the people you know and stay within your comfort zone, don’t be afraid to branch out. You see someone you want to talk to? Go and talk to them. While you may feel unsteady at first, remember that it’s only temporary and you will persevere. 

2. More freedom, more responsibility

It isn’t all work and no play! High school comes with so many new opportunities and challenges. You have more control over your schooling and your life. However, it comes at a price. You may see that you will need to start putting more responsibility into your choices. This may be upsetting at first but you will come to realize that it’s worth it in the long run. 

3. You will meet a lot of new people 

If you think that middle school is a big place, prepare to have your mind blown. High school is a much, much larger place. The total number of students at Temecula Middle School is 1,226 in 2021. But the total number of students at Temecula Valley High School is 2,898. Not to mention, the student count at Great Oak High School is 3,255. As you can probably tell, this not only means that you will have many more people walking around on campus with you, but you will also meet many more people that you might not have met before. 

4. College is closer than you think

One of the biggest misconceptions that people have when going to high school is that college is far away. This is unfortunately not true. From the moment you enter to the moment you leave, you have only four years to go from an inexperienced middle schooler to a person who can integrate into society whether it be college, the workforce, or any other pathway. Everything you do from the moment you enter that gate will put you one step closer to graduation. However, now is not the time to panic. While it may be true that high school is just a short chapter of our lives, it’s what we do that will affect our experiences. If we take advantage of every opportunity around us, I can assure you that those four years won’t seem so dreadful. 

Keep in mind, you are only human

High school might seem scary at first. Like a big mountain that you have to climb but you are not sure where to start. Don’t worry! You’re not alone. Most of your peers likely feel the same way. I hope that this article has helped you get a bit of a head start on your preparation for the fall. Keep in mind, high school is a marathon, not a race. There will be times where you will mess up and make mistakes and that’s ok. Everyone will have their harder days but it’s important to pick ourselves up and move forward towards the next chapter of our lives.

Sources:

1. https://blog.collegevine.com/8th-graders-heres-how-you-can-prepare-for-high-school-this-summer/ 
2. https://www.oxfordlearning.com/how-to-prepare-your-child-for-high-school/ 
3. https://modernteen.co/things-to-know-before-starting-high-school/ 
4. https://www.princetonreview.com/college-advice/what-to-expect-freshman-year 
5. https://blog.collegevine.com/what-to-expect-the-first-weeks-of-high-school/ 
6. https://www.ivywise.com/ivywise-knowledgebase/resources/article/what-to-expect-your-freshman-year-of-high-school/ 
7. https://jhsap.org/self_help_resources/school-life_balance/