To Whom It May Concern,

If you‘re reading this, it means you have survived the first week of school. Pat yourself on the back! Take a well-deserved victory lap! Buckle up and prepare for things to get so much worse! The hallways are an accurate representation of a clogged artery, the air is thick with the stench of teen angst, and the incoherent ramblings of sleep-deprived, glassy-eyed, AP students echo the halls. But fear not, high school isn’t actually as terrible as it looks in movies. Remember, it could be worse, you could be back in middle school. Everyone gripes about how inhuman the Freshmen are…while that may hold some truth, we were all freshmen once! We’ve all been in your shoes; the first time you stepped into Bob Jones you were greeted by a mob of impossibly tall seniors wearing wife beaters and showcasing their impressive tattoo sleeves, a sophomore who somehow managed to take every single available AP class available (and a few that were only available at an exclusive school in Maryland), and an art student who flawlessly recreated “Starry Night” from memory using nothing but dirt on the sidewalk. Here are a few tips that might help you survive Freshman year. It gets easier, I promise.

1. Do your work! (I’m serious, I put this first because it’s the most important!)

I will always commend the brave souls who teach eighth grade for their service to this world. There are certain jobs that nobody wants to do, but they need to be done; and teaching eighth grade is one of those jobs. The harrowing work these people have done slowly chips away at their souls; this has caused them to exaggerate a teensy bit, scaring the upcoming Freshmen beyond belief. You will have to work hard to succeed here. Bob Jones is a very competitive school, but you just need to do your work. Don’t worry about being better than everyone else, just worry about doing as well as you can.

2. Don’t be afraid of your teachers! (A lot of them are actually very nice people!)

Don’t be scared to ask your teachers questions. They enjoy answering them and it shows that you care, and that you‘re paying attention. Don’t worry about being extremely formal when you email your teachers. You’ll spend 15 minutes proof-reading a 20-word email, and you’ll receive a 2-word answer that ends with: “Sent from my iphone.” Be sure to meet with your counselor when you‘re working on your schedule next year, it helps a lot, and they’ll make sure you‘re creating a schedule you‘re comfortable with.

3. Get a planner

I always get a planner at the beginning of the year, write every single detail of my life down, abandon the planner, write my homework on my hand, accidentally wash it off, go home, and cry. I accidentally bought a $20 planner. I felt guilty not using it every day, and it significantly improved my organizational skills.

4. Don’t overwhelm yourself with AP classes 

AP Classes are a great option. They’re perfect for the student who likes a challenge and loves to learn. Don’t take an AP class if it’s going to negatively affect your GPA, and more importantly, your wellbeing! I have seen kids cry from stress in the middle of class! Remember that AP classes cost money, and colleges usually don’t accept more than 5. Don’t take an AP class because all your friends are taking 12, take one because you‘re ready for the challenge and you enjoy the subject.

5. Get involved with clubs/extracurricular activities.

Be sure to join clubs this year! Colleges like to see that you have stuck with something all through High School. I know it’s a cliché, but you’ll make a lot of great friends through different clubs. Try out a sport you think you might like! I’m not a sports person…but I’m sure sports can be fun (maybe).

To sum up: High School isn’t actually that bad.

Sincerely,

An Exceptionally Stressed-Out Junior