Welcome Back! What to Expect at T.C. in 09-10

The first week of  school can be stressful. The night before entering high school is worse. The fear of getting lost in an unknown world not knowing what your role is, so big that it prevents you from going to sleep. Figuring out what to wear, whether it is the new snazzy outfit you got on sale, but no one will ever know, or playing it safe with a nice pair of jeans and that comfy sweatshirt. Planning out a spot to meet with your friends, whom you have not seen the whole summer, all of these things matter when it comes to school. We don’t all have an older sibling that has gone through the same things we’re struggling through. Wouldn’t it be great if you knew some things before hand? Luckily for you that’s what this is for. Here are some tips that people just like you would have liked to know before entering high school. Enjoy!

Tip #1:  Stay organized. High school is a messy place and it is easy to lose stuff as well as yourself. Make sure that you keep an organized room and desk to work in. Every weekend or whenever you have some free time, try to tidy up your work area. When you have a clean room you will be able to work more efficiently and it will be easier to locate important papers.

Tip #2:  Do not take on more than you can handle. That is one of the biggest mistakes you can make in school. Now don’t get me wrong, it is not bad to take on many things, because believe it or not the more well rounded you are the better it looks when you are applying for college. However taking on many responsibilities can not only stress you out but it can also ruin your life. You will have too many requirements to meet and too many people to please that you will eventually disappoint all, including yourself. After that happens you are going to fall apart. So to  avoid all that mess, play some sports, join some clubs, but don’t over do it.

Tip #3:  Make smart choices. Everything you do at T.C. has a consequence. If you study you will ace the test. If you do not study and choose to sneak out at night, not only will your parents loose respect for you but you will also fail your test. No one is perfect, but you have to be careful. The worst thing ever is to know that one little “no” or a different idea could have redirected your life in a different path. Make smart decisions because every move you make brings you closer to your future.

Tip # 4:  Do not give in. Trying to fit in can be very tempting; the urge to be liked is huge. It does not mean that you can give in to peer pressure. People will try to convince you that whatever they want you to do is cool. DO NOT FALL FOR THAT. Never try to be someone you are not, even if people say it will be fun and they will accept you, do not throw your life away for a few minuets of fun, it is not worth it.

Tip #5:  Do not try to be someone you are not. Always be yourself no matter what. Even if the “popular clique” does not like you, do not try to be someone that you are not. It is never good to do that. No matter what the situation is there will always be someone in the school that likes you for who you are. There is no reason to change your personality to fit in. Find people that like what you like and you will be surprised how much more fun you will have with them, then with a group that you do not belong in.

Tip #6:  Do not fall behind in school. Missing days of school or even skipping classes will put you behind. It is never good to skip a class; there really is no point, what is an hour of your life compared to falling behind and maybe even failing the class. If you are sick and had to miss a day of school, make sure that you have a reliable friend that will take notes for you and not allow you to fall behind. Make sure they take good notes and are going to be able to explain it to you. You may even stay after school with the teacher in order to get a lesson that you may have missed. Either way make sure that you do not fall behind in school, it is always hard to catch back up, especially in high school.

Tip # 7: Join clubs/ sports. Joining clubs and sports is such a great way to make new friends and socialize. Playing a sport can introduce you to new people and it is such a great way to let out steam after school, as well as staying fit. It will teach you how to work with a team and play well with others.

Tip #8: Focus on what is important. Do not get side tracked with other things that are not related to school. If you are in a relationship there is nothing wrong with that, however know how to separate your love life from your school life. Education is very important do not let a boy/girl get in the way of that. People come and go but your education is the one thing that you can fall back on whenever you need to do so.

Tip # 9: Never regret. Everything happens for a reason and having regrets is never good. A bad decision may lead to something greater. A bad move can help you to not make the same mistake twice. In other words do not stress about a bad action that you may have made. Everything has a purpose and you just have to wait to see the positive consequence for it.

Tip #10:  Make  time for yourself. No matter how crazy life can get whether it be because of school, friends or relationships, it is always a must to have some time to relax. You need to be able to renew yourself for the challenges life face. If you are always stressed then how will you be able to solve problems? There is no guilt in spoiling yourself, take some time off from society to reconnect with yourself. Once you feel better you will be able to accomplish whatever comes your way.