Any high school advice for me?

Question

Just starting 9th soon. Are there any tips or tricks I should know to have a great time in high school. Mostly survival tips are what I need. :D Thanks.

Should have explained the school first maybe... It's a small tech school with amazing students and teachers. A lot is computer based but also working in groups. I have already been accepted into drama and a higher math. The seniors are nothing to be afraid of... the whole school is a family. And I'm not joking! I have friends there already who have told me what a family this school is.

Answer 1

This was back in 1993 for me so I don't know if some of this is still relevant, but I'll tell you what I remember.

Dress lightly because on the first day of school, the temperature in the hall ways went up because of all the nervous new people and there was even a lot of body odor from nervous new kids.

Get to school early if you can and map out your classes so that you don't get lost. There are going to be a lot of other lost students and you want to be the first to get to class and get a good seat. At least when you're the first in the room, you can have your choice of seating and your friends that come in the door will spot you first and go to you. If you're last, you have to settle for whatever seats are left over.

Usually there's a heirarchy for all the grades where all the "best" seats are for the seniors and then it progresses downward. If you have a cafeteria that has different tiers, seniors will naturally take the top or elevated tier because it's symbolic of status. The pit or the lowest tier is for new students.

How you posture yourself will determine how you're perceived. If you take a "nerd" approach, your eyes are down cast and you don't make eye contact with anyway. That's how they tend to be the target of bullies. I assume you're female so you don't have to worry about that so much.

If you're more concerned about finding a place to sit during lunch, bring your own food on the first day so you can choose your seat. Then you can sit and observe people. If you have to buy your lunch, you have to wait in line. Then when you finish getting your food, you have to find a place to sit.

It may seem silly, but when you're new in a school and it's your first day of lunch, there's that moment of anxiety sometimes of hoping you find someone you recognize whom you can sit by. If you bring your own food the first day, you can immediately sit at a table and then let your friends come to you rather than you having to seek them out. After the first day or a couple of days, then you can buy lunch.

The first couple days is usually spent scoping out the new lay of the land because it's different from your old school. If you like to be prepared and not be caught off guard, you want to be as mobile possible by not allowing yourself to get caught up in any lines or with the rest of the herd.

The rest of the herd will be the 9th Graders in your class that will be just following what everyone else is doing. They'll be mulling around like lost sheep. That's how you can tell who the knew people are because they have that deer in the headlights facial expression and they move out of the way of juniors and seniors.

That's how juniors and seniors can sometimes develop an attitude because they've been around and they've seen this all during the time they were freshman and sophomores. Juniors are poised to enjoy the benefits of being seniors and at the top of the food chain.

Depending on how often you go to games, get an ASB Card. You'll get dollar discounts off games and snacks. If you don't go to very many games, then the discounts won't really matter to you and maybe you don't need one.

I don't know what it's like today, but when I was in school, it was all about the car. If you could avoid riding the bus and had a friend who could drive, people would prefer to ride to school. It all depends on where you live regionally. Although it shouldn't matter, sometimes people do discriminate against those who ride the bus because the car symbolizes freedom. If you can get a ride, it is the second best alternative because it means you're "connected" and know someone who has a car.

Pay for your Yearbook early. You get a discount vs. buying it on the day they sell it. People who buy their yearbooks early get reservations and can pick up theirs before everyone else. You won't have to worry about that till the middle of the school year though.

If you're into Extra-Curricular Activities, joining clubs is good. It also helps you develop friendships with older students who already have cars and can drive you home. EIther that or it's a legitimate excuse for you to have your parents pick you up after school because you miss the bus. KEY Club, Honor Society, and other extracurricular activities are good.

If you want to earn money, you could work at the Student Store if they have it. If you're really feeling ambitious, you could join Future Business Leaders of America. You have to be careful with certain clubs though because once they latch onto you as a member, they'll try to conscript you into donating time and service.

That's a good thing, but most high school students are egocentric and just into themselves. However, the smart ones know that's how the real world works and they're already getting a head start on building their resume.

Get to know your Guidance Counselor who is assigned to you. He or she will be able to help you decide on what you want to do with classload.

If you want to plan for the future, you can be smart and get enrolled in a "Head Start" Program that allows you to take community college courses paid by your public school so that by the time you graduate you'll have college credit helping you save money. The down side is that you take those classes during school so you won't get to have classes with your friends.

If you want to be really sneaky, collect as many teacher signatures for passes as possible. Go up to them and ask if you can go to the bathroom. However, hand them a sheet of paper and a pencil for them to sign. The teachers who aren't paying attention will sign the note in pencil. Then you can take the note, erase the date and keep it tucked away in your wallet or purse in case of an emergency if you're ever in the hallways when you're not supposed to be.

The one nice part about being involved in clubs and doing activities is that School Administrators become familiar with you. Because they're so used to seeing you around, they'll stop asking whether you have a pass or not in the hallway because they'll assume you're on some errand.

I was Honor Society President, Chess Team Captain, KEY Club VP, and Knowledge Bowl Team Captain. So I could walk through the halls unchallenged while a scruffy looking person wearing jeans would get caught.

The other advantage of being in clubs is that you can get called out of class to go do errands for a senior that runs a particular club. That's a great excuse to leave and then go goof off.

If your School has a Blood Drive, volunteer to be one of the people helping with the blood drive. Don't donate blood. It sounds terrible, but you'll watch a lot of students donate blood, get queasy, and throw up afterward. If you're one of the volunteers, you get out of class to manage and you sometimes get lucky where you get free apple juice and orange juice for helping, which is really just sitting around checking people in.

Sometimes your school will allow you to get a P.E. Credit for doing Marching Band or Drill Team. However, with Marching Band, you have to play an instrument and there's always the "nerd stigma" that can rub off on you. Though after the movie "American Pie," being a Band Geek is a lot more interesting than it used to be.

I was a Band Geek. There was this one time I poured Tabasco Sauce on my friend's Clarinet Reed. The Assistant Music Director laughed her *** off when she found out.

If you really want to play practical joke, take two of your friends and buy ad space in the school newspaper with put a Love Note. I did that as a Practical Joke with the inscription.

"If my love for you were an ocean, it would take Columbus thrice the time to reach the Americas."

All the girls at the school told that girl that was the most romantic thing they ever read. She had to tell them it was a Practical Joke. Needless to say both of my friends were mad at me for the rest of the school year.

Ah, those were good times... :)

Answer 2

I'm a young male high school math teacher, and the big mistake that freshmen make is trying to fit in too much. Keep your focus on grades, but to make friends and fit in, all you have to do is pick a club or team that sounds fun to you, and you'll find a few dozen other people with similar interests. Don't start dying you hair or going on diets or changing you appearance. Quality guys hate followers, but douchebags love them. You can and should make your own choices, but make them wisely.

Answer 3

Be yourself whatever happens...don't follow along with gang just because... Join sports and drama activities..great way to meet lots of different kids in all grades and they're good bonding activities. Work hard in school now and it WILL pay off later...have fun!

Answer 4

My best advice would be to make as many friends as you can (don't just stick with a particular "clique or group") and be involved in as many activities as you can handle. This will be the time of your life, don't just let it go by. Live it to the fullest extent possible, be yourself, and have fun!!

Answer 5

Don't mess with the seniors, don't brown nose to the teachers, keep your nose in your business, stick with good friends and avoid stereotypical cliques.

Don't act arrogant, but don't be a pushover.

Etc.

Answer 6

Dont do what everyone else is doing.
Have a small group of friends
Join after school clubs you might not think you would be into.
Try to be sociable, but not slutty

Answer 7

Just don't be like me and have a kid anytime soon just tell the guy that your mom or dad will off him or something. Get A's and some cool clothing!

Answer 8

-don't judge other people too quickly.
-enjoy every year.
-be open to change (your outfits, personality, friends)
-get to know teachers (great for getting rec. letters!)
-don't procrastinate!
-do the work, hang out with people, the key is balance

Answer 9

Talk.

Make Friends, and join one or two clubs.

Answer 10

Don't buy any elevator passes!