It's getting to be that time of year. Stores like Target and Old Navy begin showing commercials for "Back To School" shopping, and stores like Wal-Mart are pushing for you to come and buy school supplies. The dread of a seven to three schedule for five days a week begins settling in, and seniors are preparing their goodbyes. Sometimes, it seems like everybody's focus can be on the seniors in school, but, when school begins, something very important happens with a very important group of people, and that group of people is not seniors. This group of people can be made out to seem like the bottom of the food chain, like they don't matter at all: Freshmen.

The truth is, however, your freshman year influences and impacts you the most out of all of your high school years. Everybody that is a senior now was once a freshman, and everybody has regrets. No doubt, most people are terrified to enter high school because of the horror stories of freshman year. If being bullied by upperclassman and harsh teachers isn't scary enough, the thought of you defining yourself as a person in your freshman year can be mindblowing. As a freshman, you think that just being a ninth grader isn't that important because you're practically as low as the dirt on your school floors in this year.

I wrote out this article to reach out to anybody going into their freshman year this year, but I felt my opinion alone wouldn't do how I felt justice. I sat people down and asked them each the same question. "If you could sit your freshman self down and give any advice at all, what would that advice be?" So, gathering together all the advice from the people nearest to me, I hope to prove how everyone looks back to their freshman year and wishes for more, wishes they did more, or said more. I'm writing this article for each and every freshman out their to read this article and use this school year to it's fullest, so that way they don't have to look back at this year with thoughts that start with "what if" and "I should have".

"If I could sit my freshman self down and just give myself a talk, I would tell her not to worry about what others think, not to stress out over all the stuff that happens, because, look at it this way. In ten years from now, is that gonna matter? Not really. There's so much I would've done different. I wouldn't have worried about what others thought. I wouldn't have stressed out over history, or anything like that. I would just fly through it like me, like I am now, and not worry about it. Give it the best I could, and just let what happens happens."
Caitlyn Smith, Age 17

"My advice for my freshman-self would be don't get a boyfriend and forget about all your best friends, be more involved with everything in school. I think I messed up mostly when my boyfriend and I began dating. We started dating right when freshmen year started. We dated all throughout my ninth grade year and all throughout my tenth grade year, so my first two years of high school were centered around him. I basically pushed away all of my friends, it was him all the time. If I did anything, it was with him. Two or three days before tenth grade ended, we broke up. I wasn't really worried about it then, because we were fighting all the time, so it was very mutual. But, with it being summer, you normally don't see all your friends everyday, and that really sucked, because once you push away all your friends, its hard to get back into your group. Even when you do get back into your group, it's never going to be the same. Your always going to have that factor of "well, you didn't need me when you had a boyfriend, so why do you want me now?" And because we were together, I didn't really do anything. I played volleyball, but injured my knee, so I couldn't even play volleyball anymore. Since I had no boyfriend, and no volleyball, I had a moment of trying to figure myself out again. Figuring out who I was and who my real friends were. My high school years sucked, and I think it's because I didn't do much at all my freshman year, because all I ever did was hang out with my boyfriend. So, focus on your grades, be more involved, and don't center your whole entire life on a relationship."
Christina Tolar, Age 18

"I'd say you need to set goals. The most important thing is to set a goal to strive for. Goals help you decide what you want in life and how you need to achieve them."
Brady Burch, Age 18

"Enjoy yourself. The past does not define you. Your future is what you make of it. Regret nothing and enjoy everything. Stop worrying what people think and know that what worrying what people think is the root of negativity. High school is not life. Life is life and it gets better with age. But most of all, no matter how hard situations can be, no matter what your life throws at you, hold your course and stay true to your dreams and I promise you it will all work out in the end."
Luke Pierce, Age 33

"There are so many things I would tell myself and anybody else during any high school experiences... One, Never worry about what anybody thinks about you, because nobody else can be you. Nobody goes through the same things you do. Nobody else can make the decisions you make. Nobody knows the struggle you go through at school, at work, or even at your home. Although everybody seems like they know you, nobody really knows the real you. Two, don't stress yourself over simple things. Worrying about everything will only make it harder on yourself. God said don't worry, so why do we worry so much? Yeah, sometimes homework gets stressful and losing friends gets hard, but nothing is worth losing yourself so much to stress over the simple things that can easily be fixed. Don't get caught up in the unnecessary things, because in the end you will realize it was nothing to be so hard on your self about. Three, never give up. Don't give up on yourself and the things you believe in. There will be so many times where people will throw their opinions in your business. They will make you think your decisions are stupid. Don't let anybody lower your self-esteem. Four, always stay one hundred percent true to yourself. Don't be afraid to be yourself. Don't be afraid to tell people how you feel. Don't sugar coat anything to not hurt anybody's feelings. Be straight up no matter how difficult that might be. Never change yourself to fit into some group you probably don't belong in anyways. Five, stay involved with church. Even when you have lots of things going on, stay involved in church. There will be no other place that could give you something right to do other than being in church. Stay with God, don't lose Him, because when you do, that's when you start to lose yourself. Out of all the people you have, God is honestly the only one that will stay faithful towards you. Six, love yourself. There will be so many times that you will gain and lose people, so you have to love yourself. You have to stay strong for yourself because when there are time you really think you need people, they won't be there. You have to love yourself, because nobody will be there like you will. Nobody will hold you together if you can't even hold yourself together. No matter what goes on or who does you right or wrong, love yourself. Loving yourself will be the best decision you will make for you. Lastly, it's not all what's it cracked up to be. Even though people make being out of school great, it's not. You have to do bigger things now. You have more responsibilities. You have to wake your own self up in the mornings. Don't rush anything. Because the memories of high will only be just that, memories, nothing more. You can't go back and redo it like we all wish. So stay focused, motivated, and true to yourself."
April Dixon, Age 17

"Regarding entering high school... Well, that was flipping scary! We went from the princes and princesses to the housemaids in three short months of summer. I had to continually reminded myself that just because I did not know the physical environment and was new to the “system”, that did not make me less intelligent or open to any type of belittlement. Going to a bigger place, being meshed with new kids from different towns was literally like moving. While the environment was different for us all, some kids just picked up where they were at their previous schools and their roles continued; while others floundered a bit to find their place (which is what I think happens post graduation as well) – so, I would say to either of these folks: Be compassionate to everyone, no matter their “status” at this very time – just as the Bible tells us to treat everyone as if they are the Son of Man, so we should do so in high school and life for that matter. But, I think this thought process is more critical in high school, because no matter the students status on campus, everyone is afraid of the unknown, the future, and the present times. Each person is dealing with personal issues at home and physical evolvement inside their pubescent bodies. So I would say to myself to be kind, be the difference, always try to be the person that someone remembers for making a difference in their world when it was not asked of them. I have had old school friends tell me ten and twenty years later that me speaking to them, sitting near them, chatting with them in the hall – showed them that they were not as worthless as they felt at times – not invisible. That makes my heart smile and it carries me through everyday to show me that I am valuable as well and I can make a difference! So, remember, when you make a positive impact on someone else's life, it is impossible not to make a positive impact on your own. So my friends – go forth and be the change, be the change will be good to you!"
Tona Savoie, Age 41

As you can see, people of different ages and backgrounds wished they could've said nearly the same things to each other. Focus on yourself, focus on your goals, focus on being kind to yourself and others. Freshmen, don't wait until your senior year, or even many years out of high school, to realize the changes you should've made. Take this first year of high school to truly define yourself, a you that you will be proud of in ten years time. Because this year, no matter how important, will fly by faster than you could ever imagine.

So, be you. Always be you. Don't be afraid to try new things, and don't stress over that one test you may fail. Set goals, and definitely don't let a relationship define you. Remember that your past doesn't define you either. Finally, always keep your faith in the Lord. He's got a plan for you, and that plan includes freshman year. So take a deep breath and dive right in.