How do I know? Well you are indeed talking to someone who has been there. Yes, it's true. I was once a high schooler myself *looks into the distance.*
Here's the thing, I was kind of a quiet, scared little dork in high school. And I wish someone spiritually and emotionally bonked me over the head and gave me a pep talk before starting the school year. I could have used it!
So here's everything I wish I knew going into my first day of high school.
1. Embrace the New Beginning
Doing new things can feel scary because a lot is unknown. But it also means there are endless possibilities—which is so exciting. As one of the great poet's of our time Natasha Bedingfield once said, “Today is where your book begins… the rest is still unwritten.” She was so right for that.
2. Everyone’s a Little Freaked Out, Not Just You
Remember: this is a completely new experience for most students. Whether you're starting the freshman year with pals or completely solo, everyone has a new school, new teachers, and a fresh class schedule to contend with.
As freshly minted high school students, you're all on the same boat. Don't worry about marching into the wrong class period by accident or where you're going to sit during lunch period on your first week—you're still figuring it out!
3. Be Prepared for Anything
Starting the year off prepared will make you feel way more confident in your high school escapades. For example, if you have a new commute, do a test run of your morning routine before school starts. Staying organized will help ease some of those first day (or first week) jitters.
I also recommend keeping a little care kit in your locker for “just in case” moments. I'm talking about period underwear! Tampons! Pain meds! An extra shirt in case you have a spill! A back up phone charger!
This little stash will have your back no matter where your year takes you. Plus, you never know when you're gonna make a new friend by lending them an emergency tampon.
4. Don’t Stress too Much About the Future
Between grades, part-time jobs, college looming in the distance, and managing crushes, the pressure can feel more intense in high school. But just take it day by day. Don't expect to figure it all out at once. Nobody does!
Getting good grades, making money, developing healthy relationships = all important. But the true ingredients in becoming successful in the future are simply 1) trying your best 2) being nice to everyone (including yourself). Remember that!
5. New School, New Group
When I started high school, I was too shy to take advantage of extracurricular activities. I also wasn't sure what kind of group I should join, so I avoided choosing a high school activity altogether. I so wish I hadn't. It made finding people I vibed with about 1000% times harder.
High school extracurriculars are there to help you make new friends. And if you're like me and not sure what you should join, there's no harm experimenting. Try out for that team, pop into a club meeting. You never know what might spark for you or who you'll meet.
6. Take Good Care of Yourself
And on that note, balance is key. Make sure you're taking time for yourself during this big life transition. Find time to unwind, chill and have fun. Crush that GPA but also like… slam that laptop shut sometimes you know? Breaks are good.
High school might also feel especially hard to balance when you're on your period. I mean, who wants to sit through math class when you have period cramps? Be sure to give yourself lots of grace, talk to others about your experiences, and have items on hand that will make you feel as comfortable as possible.
7. Enjoy the Ride
You're only in high school once. Unless of course, you become an actor and then play a high schooler at the age of 28 a là Riverdale or Glee. But I digress.
And while I might be your spiritual big sister, don't be afraid to lean on your actual older siblings for advice and support. They've been, there done that, so they know how things work.
Four years sounds like a long time, but it's gonna fly. Have fun, be you. You've got this.
