10 Sep The Best School Year Yet
As summer draws to a close, many of you are probably nervous, or excited, or dreading the first day of school. There’s a lot that goes into preparing for school: new supplies, clothing, classes, people, haircuts… and that’s just the beginning of the list!…No one wants to make a bad impression on any students or teachers right off the bat, so it’s important to find out how to have the happiest and most confident entry into the school year.
Now the most important thing to keep in mind is that you want to be yourself. Trying to be someone you are not to impress teachers and classmates won’t get you very far, and most importantly, it will not make you very happy. With that said, it’s also good to start some healthy habits that will help you excel in school and keep you stress free.
To begin with, if you want to create a new image for yourself before school starts, give yourself a couple weeks to test out your new look (because you may find that you don’t like it, and that also gives you some time to break into your shoes/let your haircut grow out a bit). That doesn’t mean you should reinvent yourself for the new school year, though! What’s important is that you come into class feeling confident. Wear what you feel best in (unless you have to wear uniforms, like I did. If this is the case, find a way to add your own personal touch to your uniforms in your sock, shoe, or hair accessory choices).
Now that you have your outfit covered, it’s time to focus on making friends and meeting new people. Extra-curriculars, classes, and outside school events are the best way to meet people. When I started high school, I wasn’t a huge fan of football games, but I did attend a few and that is where I met my best friend. Sporting and arts events are great ways to socialize with people you may not be able to meet in your classes (especially if classes are divided up into different academic levels like mine were). Making the effort to join one new club, if your schedule can handle it, is also a great way to meet new people.
In the classroom, it’s important to make a great first impression on your teachers. Start the year on a good note by completing all of your homework on time, and making an effort to get to know your teacher. These relationships are important to form if you ever need help in the class, for in the future, for such things as a letter of recommendation. I have a great relationship with my former english teacher and still email her now that I’m away at college. She always seems to have good advice.
Lastly, know that you’re in the right classes. If you feel uncomfortable or unhappy in a certain class, be sure to talk to a school counselor to see what your options are. Being stuck in a class that isn’t a good fit could make you miserable for the rest of the year.
Now that you have all of this advice, go make this year the best you’ve had so far! Good Luck!