Transitioning into high school from middle school may seem like a strenuous task and may cause anxiety. However, there are a lot of ways to get through that first anxiety of the first year and become more confident in your abilities.
One tip is to get familiar with the layout of the school. The high school’s layout is different from the middle schools and easier to learn. The letter in front of the classroom number is where in the school the room is located: “A” being the north side of the school, near the gym; “B” is the middle of the school, near the main entrance; “C” classrooms are closest to the Saber Center. The classroom number denotes which level it is on: The 100’s are on the first floor; 200’s on the main floor; 300’s on the third floor. For example, classroom B300 is located in the middle of the school on the third floor. Of course, if you ever get confused, teachers are always there to help.
A super important tip is to DO. YOUR. HOMEWORK. Enough said; homework isn’t mainly for a completion grade now. If you skip out on homework, you may as well have missed a class, because these classes move forward very quickly and soon you’ll find yourself struggling to keep up. This also applies to summer homework if you take Honors and/or AP classes. It’s worth it to get it over with than putting it off. Don’t bring up that you tried to do your homework, there is no “try.” You either did or you didn’t do it– it doesn’t matter to most teachers. On a similar note, listen to the teacher and don’t talk back. This tells them a lot about your character and you may quickly get on their bad side.
Join a club! Seriously. You’ll regret it if you don’t. There’s plenty of clubs Franklin High School has to offer. There’s SAGE, Creative Writing Club, ASL Club, Anime Club, and the Service Club to name a few. The Saber Slate is also a club you can join– we’re always looking for new members. Clubs are a beneficial way to get you more active in the school community and the town community as a whole. You also make new friends so it’s pretty worth it. Of course, joining a club isn’t required, but it’s fun. It’s your choice if you stay dedicated to it.
And finally, the most important tip: GET SOME SLEEP! A good night’s sleep isn’t only important for staying focused in school, it’s also more beneficial for your health. You’ll wake up feeling more refreshed and ready for the day instead of more tired than you were when you went to sleep after midnight. You won’t have to pull an all-nighter if you get your homework over with, too. It may be a challenge to start going to bed at earlier times, but prioritize earlier sleep schedules. Soon it’ll be much easier to fall asleep earlier. Sleeping is very important, and it’s crucial that you don’t lose any of it, and start doing worse in school because of that.
Your freshman year is your most important: it’s how you get the overall tone for the next 3 years of your high school career. You choose what you want to get into, and what you want to get out of. Take it day by day, and soon enough, you’ll be a sophomore.