As much as you want to believe that you’ll look like a fool on the first day, you can relax knowing you’re not the only one! You won’t be the only kid to walk into the wrong class, Leave at the wrong bell, or get lost in the halls. Make the best of this year and don’t let anything get you down! You’ll look back at this in four years and want to change certain things so make sure you’re making decisions that you can look back at happily, knowing you don’t regret a thing! These are things I learned throughout high school that would've helped me as an incoming freshman and I'm here to be the words I needed 4 years ago, for you.

1. Lunch

If your parent wants to make you lunch, LET THEM! The first day of high school, I was SO embarrassed to bring a little bag of food into school with me! For some reason, I thought of all of those movies I’d seen that showed some kids bullying the little freshman for lunch money or food. NEWS FLASH - That doesn’t really happen! In fact, after my mom stopped making me lunch because I refused to take it, my friends started bringing lunch from their home because spending money everyday on some food that was greasy and full of ingredients you weren’t to sure of was just so nauseating! You'll end up begging your mom to make you her special PB&J again, I promise you. This isn’t embarrassing, no one will judge you, and you’ll be saving money at the same time! Don't be Napoleon, hungry at school.

2. Classes

You’ll be given a schedule in advance and you’ll be able to memorize those classes but you won’t be able to memorize the hallways until you actually go into the school. Don’t worry about getting lost, usually, the class numbers are associated with whatever floor they're on so it's pretty easy! i.e. If the classroom is room 329, your class will more than likely be on the third floor! Start off by going to that floor then just wander around until you’ve found your class, being late on the first week is completely okay. Don’t be late for foolish reasons though, like “Oh, I had to walk my friend to class,” just get to class and do your thing, worry about yourself.

3. Ditching

If you wanna try to be “cool,” go ahead, but you’re cheating yourself big time. Don’t get into bad habits during your first year, it’ll just set up how the rest of your high school career will be! If you want to waste your time walking to school or waking up early to not even go to class then STAY HOME. Really. It’s annoying to those that really want to listen or learn and it’s important to those that really want that grade at the end of the semester. If that isn’t important to you, don’t go at all. Why waste your time? Go for school and be the best YOU can be. We get it, every once in a while, something will come up or you will honestly just need a break. Your parents will understand when the time comes but until then, try to stray away from ditching class!

4. Seniors

Girls. That senior boy does not actually want to date you or take you out! Don’t get caught up in all those feelings because, in a few months, that boy is going on his own path. He most likely won't keep in contact with any of his friends so why would he continue texting a young girl? Keep that in mind. Also, there’s nothing to be afraid of! Don’t worry about a senior not liking you or being mean to you! They honestly don’t worry about anyone else younger than them. They probably won’t even see you. Just do your thing and if one wants to be friends, then, hey! You hit the jackpot!

5. Drama

Drama is bound to happen. You’re bound to be brought up somehow, someway! When it does, be sure to take the bull by the horns and don’t let it touch you! What I mean by that is, you’ll definitely know when something is said but choose to avoid it! Freshmen year may be full of childish people and childish things, but the more you avoid those people who gossip or only have bad vibes, the more you’ll be happy! No one likes going to school when they’ve recently acted out and they know it! You feel as if everyone is staring at you and you have a miserable time so just try to avoid the bad and keep eyes on the good!

6. Friends

Those friends you started school with, most likely won't be talking to you by the end of the year. Keep your head up because you’re bound to make great friends whom you make great memories with! When one door closes, another one will open! If someone is bringing you down, then take a step back and ask yourself “why am I friends with this person?” You’ll see your worth and begin making friends with those that will actually stick! Don’t stress yourself out over those that make you miserable, you’d rather have a great four years, wouldn't you?

7. Join A Group

Wether you want to be apart of the Basketball team, Dance Club, or chorus, you should definitely join something. Joining into a music class or a certain club where you’re surrounded by people with the same passions as you will motivate you to do better and be better! You will also make great memories with these people because they’ll most likely be in your life until the day you (or they) graduate! If there’s not a club at your school that you’re interested in, be sure to speak up to your school administration because nine-out-of-ten times, they will help you form that group!

8. Homework

This might be a tough one based off of the classes you end up taking. When you’re given homework, be sure to always be on top of the game. Don’t be one of those kids who always chooses to copy off of others. When you copy, you don’t learn. That’ll affect you when test day arrives, copying test answers is much more fishy and risky rather than just doing it yourself to your own knowledge! If you truly didn't understand something, your teacher will be able to go over it a bit more because trust me, that section you didn’t understand will DEFINITELY be on your final. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and don’t be afraid of one bad grade, your hard work will not go unnoticed and you’ll get ways to raise your grade!

P.S. Plagerism WILL catch up to you.

9. Grades

You’ll hear from a lot of people “freshmen year doesn't matter, colleges don’t look at that,” but it does have say in your final GPA which could make or break you on which college you go to, how much financial aid you get, or the scholarships you can apply for! Be sure to do great, these grades do matter, coming from someone who had to retake two classes in high school when they could have been doing something fun with their time, freshmen year counts and you should do the best you can, as always. Be like Tina, get that gold star and BE a star.

10. Planning

You may be given a planner, this is a great way to keep track of the things you need to do throughout the week. If you have homework given in a certain class, write it down! You will most likely be overwhelmed at one point or another and forget work you had due the next day or when a big project needed to be ready; It’s better to be safe rather than sorry, so use this planner to your benefit! Also, make sure you give yourself enough time after school to finish certain things. Make sure you sign up for clubs or sports with enough time to finish homework, eat dinner, spend time with your family, and continue seeing friends. If anything, you’ll have friends in your club, but you do need time for your family and yourself.

I hope these things could help you, because i wish i had known these things as a freshman. Not everything will be about looks or what crowd you hang out with. These things should help you navigate through not only freshmen year but all of high school. Let’s make this the best four years of your life because you’ll back at it and see how fast it went by!