The transition to your freshman year of high school is an exciting yet intimidating experience. I was in that position last year, trying to figure out my place in the school and wondering what my mark on the freshman class would be. Those things you will figure out on your own, so don’t worry about that. I am writing this to help you overcome the beginning of your freshman year.

Get Your Bearings by Staying with What You Know

The first thing that I would recommend to you is to sit with kids you know in the beginning. The beginning of the school year can be rough and it’s harder to go it alone. As the year progresses you will get more comfortable speaking to people outside of your immediate friend group, but in the beginning it can be a challenge to talk to people you don’t know.

Get Busy and Join Something

If you don’t have any friends that came to Xavier with you, then join a club or sport. That will help you find people with your interests.  Xavier has a plethora of clubs and sports teams, ranging from the gaming club, robotics, astronomy to our football, basketball and rowing teams. If competitive sports aren’t your thing, you can join one of the inter-mural sports teams here. They provide a fun and relaxed environment for amateur and skilled athletes alike.

Remember, Everyone Was Once a Freshman

My second tip to you is to not listen to people that use word “freshman” in a derogatory way. I remember that last year. At first I believed it and it really lowered my morale in school. Then as the year went on, I started to tune those comments out and focused on my studies. I found I was a lot happier after I stopped listening to those comments. You too will be a senior soon and it is better to tune those things out sooner rather than later.

Keep Your Priorities Strait

My third tip to you is to focus on your studies above all things. I know in the midst of sports and clubs and mixers, your classwork can take a backseat to everything else going on. I cannot stress how important it is to get your work done on time. Colleges will look at grades from your freshman year when making their decision. I know college seems a long way ahead but this is a simple way making yourself look better to them. This phase of your life will pass. Don’t neglect preparing for the next.

Use Your Teachers

This is a very unpopular thing to say but trust me, it’s important. I know nobody wants to spend a single minute longer with their teachers than necessary, but it can be extremely beneficial to do so. At my middle school, you only went to the teacher if you had detention or just couldn’t grasp any of the material. I thought it would be the same way when I attended Xavier. I avoided my teachers, even when I needed their help. My grades suffered because of this. I urge you not to make the mistakes I did and go to your teachers for help. It is also important to not act like a brat towards your teachers, you may need to go to them to write you a letter of recommendation for college some day. Always think about the future.

Maximize your time

Sometimes, no matter how hard you work, you might not finish your work in one night. I know a lot of kids like to do their work on the bus or in the car, but these may not be the most ideal environments to finish work. Whenever I needed to finish work I would go into school early and work before classes start. If I knew that things would be crazy at home, I would stay late to get it done before I got home. I recommend that you do the same. I know it’s annoying to have to stay at school longer than you have to, but it is extremely beneficial to put in the extra time to get stuff done. If you look hard enough, there are always quiet places to work at school.

Good luck! These are my best tips for you guys to get over the first few months of your freshman year.