Freshman Advice

By Jessica Lipman

     Are you nervous about joining a new school? Since you have left eighth grade, it’s time for a fresh start as you start the next four years of high school. Being a ninth grader is usually depicted as a nightmare, but as long as you follow these tips, you will definitely survive your Freshmen year.

​     From personal experience, different groups of my friends believe popularity is the key factor in high school. When in reality, it shouldn’t be your first priority. All you need is a group of friends who are good influences for you. Kristina Phillips, a Glenelg Sophomore, described the beginning of her Freshmen year to be “stressful, since I came from a private school before.” Phillips also said that “at first I felt as if I was always hanging out with the wrong group of people, but as the first month of school went along, I felt like I had a great group of friends.” Being involved with the right crowd will help you stay out of different sorts of trouble, which will benefit your four years of high school. Try as hard as possible to stay away from groups of people who peer pressure you into doing activities you don’t want to do.

     Next, being involved in sports or clubs will help you meet new people and develop friendships. Key Club and Geo Club are examples of ideal clubs to join. Joining and trying out for a sports team will also help you meet new people. Amelia Brinkley, a Sophomore at Glenelg, said, “Even though I went to Glenwood and knew a lot of people, trying out for the soccer team and being involved with extracurricular activities helped my social skills advance and make more friends.” Staying involved throughout your high school career, will benefit with making friendships.

     Organization and grades are important in high school. Having two or three binders and a notebook for each class is a smart way to keep all your work together throughout the school year.  Being organized will always benefit and help you remember where all of your homework and papers are. It also helps to remind you to turn in your work also in order to keep your grade high.

     When it comes to grades, keeping straight A's is what everyone wants, but it’s not easy, especially if you’re in G/T or Honors classes. In the beginning of the year, you’re provided with a planner to keep track of all your homework and projects, which is a great tool to use. If you notice you are struggling in a class, after school help with your teacher or a tutor is an ideal way to keep your grades high and meet your expectations. Putting a lot of effort into your work really helps.

​     Of course, do not forget to have fun throughout high school. High school is an exciting period of time through a teenager’s life, so we must cherish and enjoy it while we still have it, because before you know it, it will be time for you to graduate.