Even though I am a senior and just started my last semester of high school, I remember freshman year like it was yesterday. I had to be my own big sister, I didn’t have anyone to give me advice on what to expect but some of my closest friends (at the time) were there with me, ready for this journey.
Sometimes I wish I could have a duo-over, take different classes, hang out with different people, play different sports. At the end of the day, instead of feeling sorry for myself or second guessing the classes I chose to take, I wanted to share my experiences with incoming freshmen, parents and anyone who wants to read. So, without further ado, here are 2 things I wish I knew before starting high school.
My first piece of advice is to talk to everyone. This may seem obvious to some people, and while it was to me, I didn’t do it. I went in with a confident, optimistic mindset but the second I was being shoved in crowded hallways or looking at the hundreds of students in the lunchroom, that confidence went away (I attend a large public school). I was intimidated by everyone and was nervous about what they thought of me. But honestly, THEY DON’T CARE! And if they do judge you, you don’t want to be friends with them anyway, as they are the ones who peak in high school. You might be wondering how one makes friends? Well, I’m glad you asked. Join clubs or play a sport. Apply to be in your school’s Leadership class. Help out at the pep rallies (if they ever happen again). Also, smile and wave when you pass people in the hallway — you might make their day. Freshman year is the hands down best time to start playing sports you’ve never played. Unless there is only a varsity team or you are just incredible at it, chances are you will get placed on the freshman or JV team. Everyone will be forced to get to know one another because of practice everyday after school and then boom, you have friends! Or at least someone to talk to… I met some of my closest friends doing sports. I can’t stress this enough, JOIN CLUBS! Clubs are amazing. You can even start one with your new friends. I joined clubs and I met upperclassmen who had my back, some whom I still talk to and am going to visit at college when it’s safe! You don’t need thirty friends in highschool, just find people who radiate positivity, the type of person who would wait for you to tie your shoe and to laugh at you when you fall. Don’t try to befriend someone just because they’re popular. I spent a long time trying to make someone like me, but in the end, they ended up using me and that was so much worse.
The next bit of advice I am about to give might be a little controversial; don’t stress about AP classes. My school offers AP classes starting sophomore year the first one being AP European History. I took the class, not because I was interested in the subject matter, but because everyone else was taking it. All I heard from other students was that “colleges want to see AP classes on your transcript”, but in the end, I dropped the class after a week because I didn’t enjoy it. Staying up until 1 am, crying and stressed out was not my favorite extracurricular. After I dropped the class I was stressed in a different way…what will colleges think of my decision? Will I get in anywhere if I don’t take APs? The answer is you can get into many schools without any AP classes. This is not me telling you to slack off, I am a 4.0 straight A student. I have been working my a** off throughout highschool (and distance learning isn’t stopping me). I have two jobs, my own jewelry company, won Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Student of the Year for the Bay Area chapter, and hold two internships, all while taking 7–10 classes each semester and multiple college classes at my local community college, and UCLA and Oxford summer programs. I did what I thought was “making up” for my lack of APs. I prioritized doing the things I loved instead of taking AP classes. I was acting more and became genuinely happy with my choices and my life. I learned how to juggle 100 things at once and went after what I wanted.
I am not suggesting that you take 10 classes, have multiple jobs and internships, volunteer, play a sport and act. That’s just what I do, and it makes me happy. Instead of taking AP classes like my peers, I found an alternative (honors classes) and used the hours of extra time I had to prioritize what makes me smile, laugh, live and feel good. THAT is my advice. Don’t take a class that you don’t love just because of the social or academic pressure. Allow yourself, and parents, allow your children to try something new or participate in helping their community instead. Hold yourself (or them) accountable for getting A’s in non AP and honor’s classes and live without that extra weight on your shoulder. High school is already stressful enough.
Take advantage of every opportunity high school has to offer. Join that club, sport, take that class, make new friends, find a job, intern for a company in your dream industry and live life! Don’t follow what your peers are doing, don’t feel pressure to keep up, you will find YOUR people sooner or later. Enjoy being in high school while you can. It flies by fast.
**disclaimer, these are my opinions and as a current high school senior and my opinions alone. I am not a college counselor or a parent**