If you see other kids bullying someone right out of the gate, stand up for them. Kindness always beats out nastiness in the long run, and you’re going to be much more popular in the long run if you’re nice. You don’t need to go above and beyond to make a good impression with teachers. Just listen, raise your hand, do your work, and stay engaged. They’ll see your hard work.
Make a cheat sheet of your schedule. Jot down the class, teacher’s name, and room number alongside the time your class starts in your planner. A weekly backpack check may help you stay on top of things. Every week, go through your folders and throw out anything you no longer need. Keep some extra pens, pencils, erasers, and highlighters in a dedicated pocket in your backpack.
If your school doesn’t have orientation, you’ll get all of this info from a teacher (usually in homeroom). Don’t worry, your school isn’t going to throw you into a chaotic first day without explaining where everything is! Your homeroom teacher is a resource. Start out on a positive foot by introducing yourself. If you need help during the first week of school, they’re a great person to ask.
If you have a teacher you don’t like, remember that it’s just one class a day for one year. Make a genuine effort to participate, focus, and complete your work. Don’t argue or act out just because you aren’t a fan of the teacher. Remember, teachers talk to one another. If you act out in one class, the other teachers will hear about it.
If you ever struggle to find friends, seek out other students with similar interests. If you and another student both love video games or basketball, it’ll give you something to talk about.
This is also one of the best ways to make friends during your freshman year. It can be scary to just go talk to other students out of nowhere, but if you’re both showing up for something you enjoy, it’ll be a lot easier. Don’t act like you’re too cool for school events. Other students may do this because they’re scared to put themselves out there, but it’s really just a defense mechanism. There’s nothing wrong with participating in things you enjoy.
Write your locker combination down somewhere. It’s never fun to show up 10 minutes late for class because you couldn’t get your locker open. Wear a watch if your school doesn’t have clocks in the hallway. Showing up late to class is a silly reason to miss material or get in trouble. Most schools will have some kind of “warning” bell to let you know class starts in 60 seconds or something like that. Figure out your routes early. If you show up late during the first week of class, apologize profusely and figure out where you went wrong navigating the halls.
The same is true for mental and emotional health. Take time to relax if you’re ever feeling stressed out. Do things you enjoy in your spare time. If you’re ever in a dark place, talk to your parents, a school counselor, or a teacher you respect.
If you do start dating someone, don’t let your relationship keep you from finishing schoolwork, hanging out with friends, or pursuing things you enjoy. Young relationships can be super intense, and it’s easy to lose sight of other things when you start dating.
Don’t hesitate to ask classmates for help! It always helps to have someone who is good at math in your corner if you’re struggling with algebra. No teacher wants to see you fail, even if it feels like it sometimes. If you’re struggling in a class, talk to the teacher about it and be open. Nobody works at a high school because they want to torture students, and they will help you get up to speed if you ask.
Bullies act out because there’s something wrong with them, not you. Don’t let them get you down. They’re just trying to make themselves feel better by making other people feel worse. Stand up for other classmates if you see them getting bullied. Don’t worry about “being a snitch” or anything like that. If anyone accuses you of something like this, just say, “They were acting like a jerk. Of course I told someone,” or, “They shouldn’t be bullying people in the first place. ” There’s nothing wrong with getting help if someone is acting cruel.
Even if someone says otherwise, electronic cigarettes are just as bad as regular cigarettes. You can become addicted to nicotine if you smoke an e-cigarette.
