As summer begins to hit the midpoint, most students are not thinking about the upcoming school year. However, if you are anything like me, you are and you plan ahead for most things. Students that fall into this "planning ahead category" are freshmen, whether that be college or high school freshmen. As an incoming college freshman I know the anxiety that comes with starting a new school. High school freshmen, here are some tips to make your first year easier.

1. It's not as bad as it seems

A lot of people will say high school was the worst four years of their life and a waste of time; I would like to argue against that. High school was the best four years of my life thus far. That's not to say there were hard times, because there were plenty of them. However, I have made some of the best, most strongest friendships in high school, I met wonderful people, I got to do wonderful things, and I joined these amazing clubs and activities. Make the most of your high school career.

2. Get involved

I began my high school career without joining any clubs as I sat back and watched every one of my friends do something special with their lives. I was scared to join certain classes because none of my close friends were doing it, but I went ahead and did it anyway. I was finally convinced by a lot of my friends to join my school's marching band, and it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Trying out new things and stepping outside of your comfort zone seems terrifying and like there will be no fun to come from it, but I promise, there will be no regret from getting involved. Find something that you're interested in, or maybe something you're not so interested in, and try it out, see where it takes you. Even if you don't think you will enjoy it, still go for it. Who knows? You might surprise yourself. If there are fun recreational sports or tournaments such as a dodge ball or volleyball tournament, do them. You may not have any skills in the sports, but being with your friends and making memories is more fun than staying home by yourself. Trust me on this one.

3. Attend sporting events

Even if your school does not have the most successful sports teams, go out and support the teams. Your peers are playing on those teams, working hard because they care. Show your support and team spirit. Don't be afraid to cheer loudly at the volleyball game or to show up to the Friday night football game draped in your school's colors. At my first football game I was too timid to cheer for my team, but by senior year I was one of the loudest cheering, even if they weren't the greatest. Sports teams show some of the most school spirit, be proud of your school.

4. Take it seriously

Of course you should have fun and make the most of your high school experience, but you also have to be conscious of your studies. Make sure you do the homework due the next day. It may seem like a waste of time at the moment, but it will be better to understand what is happening the next day in class, rather than be confused. And if you are unsure of something, don't be afraid to ask questions. Teachers are there to help you, they want your questions, they want to help you succeed. If you have a test or quiz, study for it. There's nothing that feels better than hard work paying off. And if you study and don't do so well, it is not the end of the world. A few low grades will not going to hinder your chances at a bright future and succeeding later in life. At the moment, it may seem detrimental, but there are far worse things than a poor grade.

5. Make the most of it

A common cliche is that high school goes by in a blink of an eye and it's true. It seems like only a few months ago I was getting lost in the halls and actually forgetting how to leave the building on the first day. In reality, that was four years ago. Live your high school life to the fullest. It's not worth it to stress over minuscule fights with friends or to worry about having your crush notice you. Life is much more than that. Get involved with people you want to be around and make good choices. Make memories that you will carry around with you for a lifetime; memories that you'll look back on five, ten years from now and you will reminisce about all of the things you did in high school. Look back on those experiences and remember how you felt in that moment. These four years will go by quickly, and they'll be hard to get through at times, but in the end, it is all worth it.