High School.

 The word can bring happy nostalgic memories for some, and for others, it only brings fear. But, why? Is it the horror stories we hear about high school? More than likely, your answer is yes. Although it is normal to be nervous about things, (especially about high school) not all of the things you hear are necessarily true. You may feel alone in thinking scary thoughts about high school, but it is guaranteed that you’re not alone. Don’t believe me? Here’s what some freshman had to say when asked:

What was your biggest fear about high school?

 “Not having any friends in any of my classes.” -Sarah Lay

“Not knowing where to sit at lunch.” -Erin Solomon

“Getting lost and not knowing where to go.” -Nirah Burwell

By definition, a misconception is a view or opinion that is incorrect because it is based on faulty thinking or understanding. In simpler terms, it’s a statement that plain wrong. We have listed 15 common misconceptions about high school, in hopes that it’ll clear up any concerns and make you less nervous for the years to come. Here are 15 high school misconceptions:

1.) The fear of getting shoved into a locker There is a reason why this is the #1 misconception. I’m pretty sure everyone has feared this at one time or another, but realistically, this isn’t going to happen. Why? Because A, that only happens in movies, and B, Bob Jones has no lockers…so, yeah.

2.) The “Mean Girls” group walking through the hallway I’m pretty sure everyone can envision a scene like this in their mind. A group of girls in fancy clothes strutting through the hallways with wind blowing through their hair. The hallway will part like the Red Sea and everyone will be swooning and drooling over the girls. Yeah, that doesn’t happen. I promise, no one will notice you in the hallways. Not for any personal reason, but simply because we only have a few minutes to get from one side of the school to the other. And besides, there’s not enough room for a group of a few girls to show off. Anytime you’re switching classes, there will always be someone in front, behind, and on both sides of you…Always.

3.) Detention will be like “The Breakfast Club” Well, at least from what I hear. I’ve never actually been in detention…so. But I’m almost positive it’s nothing like it.

4.) You will have the same group of friends all through high school Sadly, this is not always the case. Yes, there is always a chance that you’ll remain friends with your “group”, but with all of the classes you’ll have, there are so many opportunities to build new friendships.

5.) You’ll have to stay up until the early hours of the morning in order to finish homework/projects Luckily, this is not always true. I’m not saying that you’ll NEVER have nights like this, but there’s more times that you won’t. There will be projects that’ll definitely keep you up ‘till the early hours of the morning, (Sometimes even all night!) but it won’t be every single night.

6.) If you’re late to class on the first day, you’ll be shunned and everyone will hate you and you’ll have to move across the country to escape embarrassment Being late to class is totally normal, especially on the first day and also because it’s high school. Depending on your teacher, they may give you a warning or maybe not even say anything at all. Chances are, other people in your class might be late too. Just don’t make being late a habit. Always be punctual.

7.) There is a “Queen Bee” that rules the school Honestly, I don’t understand how this could even be true. Well, unless you’re Sharpay from High School Musical.

8.) Appearance and popularity are the most important things ever Although making a good impression is important and it is nice to have people know your name, those are not two things that are vital in your years of high school. As cheesy as it may sound, personality is the most important thing. Just be yourself and you’ll find friends who love you for you!

9.) Food fights This could not be further from the truth. First of all, you’re wasting perfectly good food. (I mean, who wants to do that?) And second of all, no one will join you. Well, there might be a few people who would, but I have no desire to leave the cafeteria with spaghetti all over my new white shirt. Plus, there are teachers everywhere…I mean, EVERYWHERE. So, if someone by chance does start a food fight, it wouldn’t last longer than 30 seconds or until a teacher comes to tackle you. Yeah, you might see an occasional grape fly across the table, but chances are, nobody’s going to slap you on the face with a piece of pizza.

10.) If you get a bad grade on a test, you’ll fail the course and will be forced to be a high school dropout Everyone has made a bad grade at least ONCE in their life. The first thing you have to do is remind yourself that it’s going to be okay. It’s not the end of the world. Get with a friend or stay after class and go over your test with your teacher. Pay attention to the things that you don’t understand and make corrections. Ask if you can take it again or if you can fix the ones you missed. There is no guarantee that the teacher will say yes, but it doesn’t hurt to ask. Remind yourself that it is one grade, and that you will bring it back up. If you’re still upset about your grade, remind yourself that Beyonce probably got a bad grade on something once too.

11.) Not having any friends in your classes This is not only a fear for upcoming freshman, but for everyone in every grade as well. If you end up not having anyone you know in your classes, relax and don’t panic. Making friends might be easier than you think. If you hate History and so does the girl in front of you, complain about it together. If you don’t understand how to do a certain math problem, ask the guy next to you, he might help you out. It’ll be even easier if you’re in an elective. These people chose the elective because they enjoy it, just like you. Bam, there is one common interest. Also, if you happen to get a new kid in your class, be welcoming. They are in the exact same position as you were. Remember how you felt on your first day, and try to make the feel accepted. Who knows, you might end up with a new friend.

12.) Jocks will give you wedgies As mentioned in #2, there is hardly enough room to do anything in the hallway besides walk, so wedgies are not going to happen. Plus, pants are getting tighter and tighter nowadays…There’s no way someone could fit there hand in there. I mean, how weird would it be for someone to dig in your pants and grab your underwear? I highly doubt that something that will happen. Why? Um, that’s gross.

13.) You are destined to get a swirlie Going along with #2 and #12, this is probably a scene that you can picture in your head. And just like for those misconceptions, this one will not happen. One, because there is not enough time to even give someone a swirlie. Hello, my class is on the opposite side of the school and I still have to finish my homework. Two, because someone is bound to tell a teacher what they did. Third, it’s just completely unrealistic…and gross.

14.) Bullies are going to beat you up for lunch money With all of the technology that we have, most people insert their lunch money to an online account. But, if you do happen to bring money to school with you, I can almost guarantee no one is going to corner you and beat you up for a few coins. Sure, there will be times when your friend might ask you to buy a bag of Doritos or a water bottle for them, but they won’t beat you up for it.

15.) Not having a place to sit at lunch so you have to go to the bathroom and eat your lunch alone in a stall Just like #11, this a fear not only for freshman, but for every grade level as well. Each class has a different lunch, so you never know who will be in your lunch. Whether you buy your lunch or bring lunch from home, before you decide where to sit, observe the lunchroom. Do you recognize anyone? Sit with any familiar face that you can find. Sure, they might not be your best friend, but it’s better than sitting alone or having no place to sit at all. Also,talk to people in your class. On the way to lunch, ask the person who is behind you if you can sit with them. Chances are, they probably have no idea where they are going to sit either

See? It’s not as bad as you think. Just relax and think positive. After all, high school is where you’re going to be for the next 4 years of your life, so you might as well enjoy it while it lasts!