I remember my freshman year of high school like it was just yesterday. I was so intimidated by the seniors and very afraid of the teachers. Everyone seemed so much older and wiser than I was, which is partly true. But I didn't need to be as scared as I was. Freshman year of high school was a blast and much better than middle school. Here are a few things you should know before you enter high school.

1. Be prepared for a whirlwind of new.

The class schedule, the people, lunch time, the dances, and so much more. There are numerous wonderful new experiences that you will have. But at the same time, be prepared to face new kinds of peer pressure as well. You may be offered experiences that will not benefit you whatsoever. Make sure that you are smart when it comes to partaking in these activities. Make good decisions and you will have a successful first year.

2. Be open to befriending people from other grades.

In middle school you won't typically have classes with students from other grades, but in high school, this is a common occurrence. Whether it be gym class, math class, or even a sport, you will have the opportunity to befriend older students. It's also quite common for the friends you have now to start making new friends and not hang out with you as much. While losing friends can be sad, it is a part of life. Just know that everything happens for a reason and that your true friends will stick by you always.

3. Get involved.

I remember being too afraid to go to a club meeting that interested me because none of my friends were going. What I didn't realize is that joining a club that I had an interest in meant that everyone there also had an interest in it. Clubs and other activities are great places to meet people with the same interests that you have.

4. Challenge yourself.

While it may be nice taking easy classes, this doesn't get you ready for college at all. Take the hard classes, even if it means getting a B or C and lowering your GPA. Colleges like to see students taking upper level classes rather than easy A classes just to keep their GPA high. While you may not be thinking much about college since you are only a freshman, this is still important to consider now. Four years goes by pretty quickly and freshman year cannot be a slack off year.

5. Don't get caught up in all of the drama.

There's a lot more drama in high school; just try to keep yourself out of it. Drama doesn't do anything for you and doesn't matter at all once you leave high school. Just worry about yourself and don't care what others think of you. I promise it's not worth it.

6. Be respectful.

You need to be respectful to your teachers, your classmates, and everyone that works in the school. You will not go far in life thinking that you have the right to treat people like they are below you. Please treat those around you the way you want to be treated. I know that your parents have probably told you that a million times, but it really is the golden rule, so follow it.

High school isn't scary, I promise. And I know that school is difficult for some, both academically and socially, but just know that you can do some pretty cool things to find yourself during it.

So for next year, please do your best, be yourself, and have fun, you'll do great!