List Of Dos And Don’ts For Freshman Year Of High School

Ah, high school. A time of transition, excitement, and endless possibilities. As a freshman, you’re entering a new phase of your life, with new challenges, new opportunities, a new bucket list and new expectations. But don’t worry – we’re here to help you navigate this exciting time with our list of Freshman Do’s and Don’ts. 

From making new friends to acing your classes, we’ve got you covered. Whether you’re nervous about fitting in, wondering how to manage your time, or just looking for some general advice, we’ve got tips that will help you make the most of your freshman year. So, let’s get started on this exciting journey, with a few simple guidelines to help you thrive in high school and beyond!

Freshman Do’s and Don’ts

Are you ready to dive into the exciting world of high school, where the hallways are long, the lunch lines are even longer, and the rules are, well, kind of boring? Sure, we all know that you’re supposed to attend class and not argue with people, but let’s be honest – those tips are about as exciting as a pencil sharpener. 

That’s why we’re here to offer some fresh, quirky tips that will help you navigate the wild and wonderful world of high school. From finding your squad to mastering the art of the locker combination, we’ve got you covered. So, buckle up and get ready for a ride that’s as wild and unpredictable as a cafeteria food fight!

Do’s

• DO: Select an elective you’d like to take. Enrolling in the most difficult classes while selecting your courses can be tempting. Some students enroll in AP classes and foreign languages as freshmen in addition to their five mandatory courses.
• DO: Consider your workload. The adjustment from middle school to high school is significant. The amount of work you had to do in your first few weeks as a freshman nearly overwhelmed you. You mostly only ever had math homework in middle school, with occasional assignments from one or two other subjects.
• DO: Speak up for yourself. Being able to speak out for yourself is a crucial ability to have, especially with school now being fully online. You should email your teachers or fellow students when you need assistance or have questions. It is what it means to advocate for yourself.
• DO: Make friends with seniors. They usually tell you that your seniors are rude and that you shouldn’t talk to them, but practically every senior you’ve ever encountered has been nothing but friendly. This way, you will also get to know the major differences between freshman year and senior year.
• DO: Join extracurricular activities. You should try out a tonne of extracurricular activities in your first year. Even if you’re still determining whether you want to continue, attending their interest meeting could be enjoyable and useful for helping you decide.
• DO: Locate a stress release. High school is demanding. You will undoubtedly experience periods of extreme stress related to your activities, friends, and grades. Although feeling overwhelmed is normal and acceptable, you should take a break to manage your stress and prevent burnout.
• DO: Create a study plan. Your optimal test-study strategy is something you need to determine as soon as feasible. Everyone’s mind functions differently, so everyone will have various study methods. After all, performing in academics is crucial too, as one might be worried about getting good marks to enter college. 
• DO: Investigate the area. After the initial week of classes, wander about your town and become lost. Visit stores you have never been to, eat unfamiliar foods, and look for enjoyable activities and destinations that will take your mind off school.
• Do: If you don’t love your subject, change it. There is a myth that suggests you shouldn’t switch your major because doing so would delay your graduation. People will also make justification that changing it would be a waste of time.
• Do: Establish a system of organizing your locker. Your locker may be your best friend or worst adversary in high school. A disorganized locker will cause a delay in class if your supplies need to be organized. It can be quicker to walk to classes if your locker is organized in some way.

Don’ts

• Don’t: talk about the previous school. All of you attended middle school. You are fully aware of its characteristics and our personalities when within. We’re confident that you would forget some of it if you could. It does not imply that you should ignore that middle school was a significant period in your life.
• Don’t: Get caught up in your image. It can be very simple to want to fit in and pay too much attention to what other people think when you’re in high school. Although it can be challenging, you must understand that your opinion is the only one that matters.
• Don’t: Gives sleep less importance. Sleep is crucial, especially for teenagers. Sleep helps preserve the regularity essential for day-to-day functioning, improves mental and physical health, and reduces stress. Teenagers require about 9 to 9.5 hours of sleep each night.
• DON’T: Attend classes just because your pals are. Enrolling in the same classes as your pals in high school is preferable because there are so many new individuals in your classes, and you will find it easier to converse with them. However, if you merely enroll in classes because your buddies do, this could be seriously damaging.
• Don’t: Avoid conversation with strangers, including teachers. The first day of class is a great opportunity to meet new people. If you happen to run into some old friends from middle school, consider striking up a conversation with your new classmates so you can make friends in your courses before the start of the school year.
• Don’t: Completely avoid reading each class’s syllabus. A syllabus is a summary of the subject you will cover in class that frequently includes crucial dates, guidelines for behavior in class, and drop-in times for extra assistance, such as office hours.
• Remember that your emotions are important. The educational system may try to convince students that their grades are the only thing that matters, but this is untrue. A high school student should place far less importance on grades and exam results.
• Don’t: entering high school with high hopes. Everyone will tell you that your high school years will be your greatest ones. That is accurate for some. That is not right for certain people. You probably won’t, and you might even experience loneliness or depression. But if you want them, they will come in due course.
• Refrain from believing that you must participate in everything. This advice is crucial whether you are an extrovert or an introvert. If you are an introvert or extrovert, you probably promised yourself when you first started college that you would attend every event and meet many new people.

Bonus tips for first-year high school students to prepare for sophomore year

The sophomore year of high school begins as the first year ends. The most exciting moment in a person’s life is in high school. We can, therefore, totally comprehend how thrilled and giddy high school students are to begin yet another year of unforgettable high school experiences. 

After crossing a few items off your first-year bucket list, your sophomore year is ready to welcome you with new objectives. However, we want to give our beloved teen readers a huge thumbs up before we start with our customary charade of advice and tips.

1. Take your academics seriously

The first year of high school was just the start. It was all about getting to know what high school life. Because of this, it does seem simple. But things will undoubtedly become more serious once you start your sophomore year. 

2. looking into colleges

You must have determined your area of interest by this point. If you have, that’s fantastic; if not, that’s also acceptable. But you do need to be aware that it’s time to start trying new things to determine what you could enjoy doing in the future.

3. Enroll in a language class.

The globalized society of today has made bilingualism the new standard. It will not only give you an advantage when applying to colleges, but it is a skill that will come in handy in the future. This can also be a summer program, that often acts helpful for freshman-year students.

4. Take advantage of volunteer opportunities.

You are fully aware that you must perform a specific amount of community service to graduate from high school. Therefore, the sophomore year is the second most successful time for you to start volunteering if you didn’t do so in your first year.

5. Create a positive relationship with your instructors.

Utilize the resource that is in front of you. Talk to your professors if you need assistance, consider their advice when submitting applications for clubs and universities, and chat with them outside of class about anything and everything.

Wrapping it up,

As you embark on this new chapter in your life, remember to stay true to yourself and embrace all the ups and downs that high school has to offer. It’s okay to feel nervous, overwhelmed, or just plain lost at times – we’ve all been there. But with a little bit of humor, a dash of creativity, and a lot of perseverance, you’ll be able to conquer anything that comes your way. 
Whether you’re exploring new passions, building lifelong friendships, or simply surviving a math test, know that you’re not alone in this journey.

So, take a deep breath, put on your favorite pair of socks, and keep on keepin’ on. You’ve got this, freshman! And who knows, you may just surprise yourself with all the amazing things you’re capable of achieving. So go out there and make high school your own – quirky tips and all! At the same time, certain tips can also help parents understand the mindset of their students in their freshman year, and can enable them to focus more, and make the most of their year.